The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) seized over $4 million worth of cocaine from two drug traffickers transporting the illicit narcotics in a boat near Desecheo.
Both suspects, who were arrested following the drugs bust, are U.S. citizens. The total estimated value of the intercepted narcotics is $4.6 million, according to AMO law enforcement officials.
CBP AMP officers intercepted a vessel transporting 511 pounds of cocaine southwest of Desecheo Island on Thursday, July 11. The operation was part of ongoing efforts by the CBP to combat drug trafficking in the area.
Steve Parsons/EMPPL PA Wire
The Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center (CAMOC) alerted a Mayaguez Marine Unit about a suspicious vessel heading east towards Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
Jacksonville Air and Marine Branch (JAMB) deployed an aircraft to identify the boat, which was a white 21′ Walkaround type Mako with a single outboard engine (OBE).
The aircraft provided overhead surveillance to support the crew in intercepting and stopping the boat. Agents searched it and discovered 191 bricks of suspected cocaine.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has taken two suspects into custody following the drugs bust as they make further inquiries.
Paul Sancya/AP
Christopher Hunter, director of Air and Marine Operations in the Caribbean, said in a statement: “These seizures underscore the unwavering commitment of our Marine Interdiction Agents to safeguarding our nation’s borders from the scourge of drug trafficking.
“The successful operations on Tuesday and Thursday are a testament to the diligence, expertise, and relentless effort of our team. We will continue to leverage all available resources and intelligence to disrupt and dismantle the networks that seek to smuggle illegal narcotics into our communities. Our priority remains the safety and security of the American people.”
Desecheo Island is a small, uninhabited island in the archipelago of Puerto Rico in the northeast of the Mona Passage.
Separately, AMO and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) thwarted an attempt by a man to smuggle 357 pounds of cocaine through the island of Culebra last Tuesday.
PRPD officers in Culebra discovered a vessel near the beach along with a vehicle where a duffel bag lay outside. The suspect fled in a vehicle after officers approached and was later detained after being pursued.
In the fiscal year 2022-2023, AMO drug enforcement operations resulted in the seizure or disruption of 256,883 pounds of cocaine, 2,049 pounds of fentanyl, 4,050 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,200 weapons and $15.3 million. AMO law enforcement officials have made 1,004 arrests and apprehended 89,909 undocumented individuals.
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