US Coast Guard unloads over $4 million worth of seized cocaine, smuggler in custody

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CMC) – According to the US Coast Guard, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos recently offloaded 388 pounds of cocaine with a wholesale value of US$4.3 million (J$668 million), this year In 2016 the Caribbean Sea was confiscated.

The Coast Guard said it also turned over custody of two smugglers to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, following the seizure. It said the ban was the result of interagency efforts in support of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force.

The arrested smugglers are U.S. citizens facing criminal charges in Puerto Rico for, among other things, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute on board a vessel subject to United States jurisdiction.

The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the crew of a U.S. coastal aircraft spotted a suspicious 22-foot recreational boat in the Caribbean Sea on the morning of Sept. 28 en route to Rincón, Puerto Rico.

Denise Foster, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Caribbean Division, said, “This operation highlights the incredible power of collaboration between agencies such as the DEA, the Coast Guard and our federal and local partners.”

“Through this joint effort, we can effectively combat transnational criminal organizations and disrupt their illegal activities,” she noted.

“The teamwork demonstrated in this case is a shining example of how, when we work together with a shared mission, we strengthen our ability to protect the citizens of Puerto Rico, the U.S. mainland and abroad from the scourge of drug trafficking. “These partnerships are not only critical; They are the cornerstone of our success in keeping our communities safe,” Foster added.