Cocaine Seizure in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
U.S. Border Patrol agents in Aguadilla joined forces with local police to confiscate over 560 pounds of cocaine on Monday. This maritime operation led to the arrest of two U.S. citizens suspected of trying to land the illegal cargo.
As reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on October 5, law enforcement noticed a suspicious boat in waters west of Aguadilla. In response, U.S. Border Patrol agents initiated an operation to intercept it. With assistance from Puerto Rico’s Fuerzas Unidas de Rapida Accion (FURA), they successfully stopped the vessel near the island’s coast. FURA, formed in the mid-1980s, is a specialized tactical operations bureau.
Upon boarding the boat, the agents found 231 packages filled with a white powder that tested positive for cocaine, according to officials. The boat, the suspected drugs, and the two individuals on board were then taken to the Ramey Border Patrol Station for further investigation.
The total weight of the cocaine came to 562 pounds. Following the investigation, U.S. Border Patrol agents handed the case over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further inquiry and legal action. Officials indicated that the street value of the seized drugs is around $7.5 million.
Reggie Johnson, Chief Patrol Agent of the Ramey Border Patrol Sector, commented on the significant operation, emphasizing, “This seizure reflects the strength of our partnerships and the dedication of the personnel safeguarding Puerto Rico’s coastal borders. By collaborating with the Puerto Rico Police Department and FURA, our agents successfully prevented a large amount of dangerous narcotics from reaching our communities. We remain devoted to disrupting transnational criminal organizations and ensuring public safety.”
The Ramey Border Patrol Sector is one of twenty across the U.S. Notably, it encompasses the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and is the only sector situated outside the continental United States. Its jurisdiction consists entirely of coastal areas, covering 6,000 square miles of land and water, which includes the twelve-mile zone of territorial waters surrounding the islands.
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands serve as critical entry points for narcotics smuggling into the United States. Authorities, including CBP and U.S. Border Patrol, view the waters around these islands as a frontline defense against maritime threats to the mainland.
U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement are part of a broader network of American law enforcement and military agencies working together to combat foreign terrorist organizations aiming to breach the U.S. borders.
