A cargo of at least 2.513 pounds of cocaine was seized a week ago by officers of the United States Customs in Puerto Rico, a procedure where three Dominicans were arrested.
According to a press report that was released today, with an estimated street value of $28.5 million and was detected during an operation which took place in the northeast of Puerto Rico.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in the statement that the three foreigners were in charge of operating and managing the intercepted ship.
Johnny Morales, director of CBP’s Air and Marine Operations in the Caribbean, said “we remain committed to work with other federal and local law enforcement partners to detect and deter smuggling attempts throughout the Caribbean”.
On March 16, the 20ft, twin-engine vessel was detected by a CBP aircraft, when sailing towards the town of Loiza, in the northeast coast of Puerto Rico.
After observing the vessel, CBP contacted the US Coast Guard Sector San Juan Coast, which sent the cutter “Joseph Tezanos” to intercept the vessel near theLoizaRiverdelta.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assumed the prosecution and investigation, the statement said.
This interdiction is the result of several agencies efforts, including the Caribbean Inter-Agency Group (CBIG) and the Caribbean Corridor Attack Force (CCSF).
The suspected smugglers are facing likely federal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney´s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is a federal law enforcement organization, attached to CBP, dedicated to serving and protecting the American people.
It has some 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
At the beginning of February, Puerto Rico security forces seized in Vieques 2.378 punds of cocaine with an estmated value of $25 million.
Translated by: José Espinoza
Noticias Newswire
