Two US citizens arrested, vessel intercepted with over 500 pounds of cocaine in Caribbean Sea

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, CMC – Two US Citizens were arrested by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency on Thursday after they intercepted a vessel carrying over 500 pounds of cocaine. The vessel was intercepted near Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea.

CBP said the estimated value of the seized narcotics is US$ 4.6 million.

“These seizures underscore the unwavering commitment of our marine interdiction agents in safeguarding our nation’s borders from the scourge of drug trafficking,” said Christopher Hunter, CBP’s director of Air and Marine Operations in the Caribbean. “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,” he added. “Our priority remains the safety and security of the American people.”

CBP said the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center contacted a Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Marine Unit providing information regarding a vessel navigating east towards Mayaguez.

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A Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) from the Jacksonville, Florida, Air and Marine Branch, located a white 21′ Walkaround type Mako with a single outboard engine and two persons on board near Desecheo Island, CBP said.

It said the MEA provided overhead surveillance to assist the crew of an AMO Coastal Interceptor vessel stop the incoming vessel.

CBP said the Marine Interdiction Agents searched the vessel and found 191 bricks of suspected cocaine.

US Homeland Security Investigations took custody of the two arrested US citizens and the contraband for investigation and prosecution, CBP said.

It also said that, on Tuesday AMO and the Puerto Rico Police Department thwarted an attempt by a man to smuggle 357 pounds of cocaine through the island of Culebra.

In Fiscal Year 2023, CBP said AMO enforcement actions in the Caribbean Sea resulted in 1,004 arrests and 89,909 apprehensions of undocumented migrants, as well as the seizure or disruption of 256,883 pounds of cocaine, 2,049 pounds of fentanyl, 4,050 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,200 weapons and US$15.3 million.