Four people from the Dominican Republic were arrested after authorities said they tried to bring a large quantity of cocaine to Puerto Rico.
A New Orleans Branch Air and Marine Operations aircraft spotted the vessel north of Puerto Rico on Oct. 28, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Later that evening, air and marine crews moved to intercept the vessel near Carolina. CBP said the boat accelerated and did not stop. Those aboard allegedly threw bales into the water before the vessel stopped north of Loíza.
Crews arrested four people: one woman and three men, all of whom said they were Dominican nationals. Agents from San Juan and Fajardo recovered nearly 200 pounds of cocaine, which CBP estimated was worth about $1.5 million.
Caribbean Air and Marine Branch Director Christopher Hunter said coordinated air and marine efforts helped authorities track and safely intercept the vessel before it reached Puerto Rico. He said the operation was part of efforts to protect maritime borders and disrupt smuggling networks in the Caribbean.
In a similar incident in May, CBP crews intercepted another suspicious vessel near Puerto Rico after people aboard threw packages into the water. Authorities recovered about 400 pounds of suspected cocaine and arrested three people, who were also identified as Dominican nationals.
