SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, CMC – The USA Coast Guard says the crew of its Cutter Joseph Napier offloaded 182 kilograms of cocaine seized within the Caribbean Sea, with an estimated road worth of US$4.5 million, and transferred custody of two male smugglers to US federal regulation enforcement authorities in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
On Friday, the Coast Guard mentioned the British Royal Navy HMS Trent seized the contraband and apprehended two smugglers, Dominican Republic nationals, following the interdiction of a go-fast vessel within the Caribbean Sea, southwest coast of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, on March 3.
Coast Guard officers mentioned the interdiction outcomes from interagency efforts supporting the Coast Guard’s Western Hemisphere Technique and Operation Unified Resolve.
“We recognize the work and collaboration of our British Royal Navy companions in stopping drug smuggling vessels within the excessive seas,” mentioned Commander Gerard Wenk, Coast Guard Sector San Juan chief of response. The work we do collectively each day with our federal, native, and regional companions helps defend and convey stability to the Caribbean area from this menace.”
DEA’s Caribbean Division Particular Agent in Cost Denise Foster mentioned: “Drug smuggling organizations pose the best menace to the protection and well being of our residents.
“The dedication of all maritime surveillance property is essential to the mission’s success at hand,” she added. “We’ll proceed to work with our counterparts and allocate all our regulation enforcement assets to make a better affect in susceptible areas the place legal organizations devoted to drug trafficking are inflicting better injury.”
The US Coast Guard mentioned its efforts below Operation Unified Resolve contribute to the interagency outcomes being achieved each day below Operation Caribbean Guard, which coordinates efforts between the US Coast Guard, US Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), and Commonwealth and Territorial regulation enforcement companions, “who’re working diligently to discourage, detect and disrupt illicit maritime trafficking to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.”
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