In a significant blow to the illicit drug trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents intercepted a vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico, seizing cocaine with an estimated street value of over $30 million.
The agents discovered 60 bales of the drug, weighing a staggering 3,687 pounds, near the southern coast of the island of Vieques on September 4.
As reported by Newsweek, the operation unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday when a team of AMO Marine Interdiction agents spotted a vessel operating without lights near Vieques' southern coast. The occupants of the vessel, upon noticing the agents' blue lights and siren, deliberately ran the vessel aground on the shoreline and fled into a nearby brushy area. The officers recovered the boat from the shallow waters and towed it to the Fajardo Marine Unit, where they discovered the massive haul of drugs.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has since confiscated the contraband and the vessel, with further investigations ongoing. Christopher Hunter, Director of Air and Marine Operations in the Caribbean, praised the agents' dedication and precision, stating, "Through the dedication and precision of our CBP Air and Marine Operations agents, over 3,000 pounds of cocaine were intercepted, effectively stopping these harmful drugs from reaching our communities." He added, "This operation highlights our relentless commitment to border security and the protection of our citizens from the dangers of illicit narcotics."
In a separate operation on the same day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, in coordination with the Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces for Rapid Action (FURA), intercepted another vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico, seizing cocaine worth more than $5 million. This follows several cocaine seizures in August, including a haul worth $6 million found on an intercepted vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico, resulting in the arrest of two Dominican Republic citizens.
In a testament to the vigilance of the CBP officers, over $4 million worth of cocaine hidden behind a "false wall" in a tractor-trailer was seized at the U.S.-Canada border. The AMO enforcement operations in Fiscal Year 2023 led to 1,004 arrests and 89,909 apprehensions of undocumented individuals. They also 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 in cash.
According to CBP data, over 53,783 pounds of cocaine have been seized nationwide in Fiscal Year 2024. Law enforcement officials at the U.S.-Mexico border seized 24,152 pounds of cocaine overall in the Southwest border in the 2023-2024 fiscal year as of July 2024. These operations underscore the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protect citizens from the dangers of illicit narcotics and uphold border security, a cornerstone of conservative values.
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