SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, CMC – The US Customs and Border Safety (CBP) company says brokers from its Air and Marine Operations (AMO) intercepted Thursday a vessel within the Caribbean Sea, about 9 nautical miles southwest of Desecheo Island, close to Puerto Rico, seizing 511 kilos (231.7 kilograms) of cocaine and arresting two US residents.
CBP mentioned the estimated worth of the seized narcotics is US$ 4.6 million.
“These seizures underscore the unwavering dedication of our marine interdiction brokers in safeguarding our nation’s borders from the scourge of drug trafficking,” mentioned Christopher Hunter, CBP’s director of Air and Marine Operations within the Caribbean. “The profitable operations on Tuesday and Thursday are a testomony to our crew’s diligence, experience, and relentless effort.
“We’ll proceed to leverage all obtainable assets and intelligence to disrupt and dismantle the networks that search to smuggle unlawful narcotics into our communities,” he added. “Our precedence stays the protection and safety of the American individuals.”
CBP mentioned the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Middle (CAMOC) contacted a Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Marine Unit offering info concerning a vessel navigating east in direction of Mayaguez.
A Multi-Position Enforcement Plane (MEA) from the Jacksonville, Florida, Air and Marine Department (JAMB) positioned a white 21′ Walkaround kind Mako with a single outboard engine (OBE) and two individuals on board close to Desecheo Island, CBP mentioned.
It mentioned the MEA supplied overhead surveillance to help the crew of an AMO Coastal Interceptor vessel in stopping the incoming boat.
CBP mentioned the Marine Interdiction Brokers searched the vessel and located 191 bricks of suspected cocaine.
US Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) took custody of the 2 arrested US residents and the contraband for investigation and prosecution, CBP mentioned.
It additionally mentioned that, on Tuesday, AMO and the Puerto Rico Police Division thwarted an try by a person to smuggle 357 kilos (162 Kilograms) of cocaine via the island of Culebra.
In Fiscal Yr 2023, CBP mentioned AMO enforcement actions within the Caribbean Sea resulted in 1,004 arrests and 89,909 apprehensions of undocumented migrants, in addition to the seizure or disruption of 256,883 kilos of cocaine, 2,049 kilos of fentanyl, 4,050 kilos of methamphetamine, 2,200 weapons, and US$15.3 million.
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