The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations might have thwarted a significant drug deal by intercepting a boat thought to be carrying a large quantity of cocaine, valued at millions.
This operation occurred on October 7, with the vessel being apprehended off the coast of Guayanilla, a community located in southern Puerto Rico. Three individuals from Venezuela, who were undocumented, were discovered aboard the boat, as indicated in a CBP statement.
‘This seizure reflects the value of coordinated maritime enforcement and the vigilance of our personnel and partner agencies.’
Described as a “Yola-type” boat, it’s typically a smaller, often handmade vessel made from wood or fiberglass.
After the interception, crews took the boat to the Ponce port for a more thorough investigation.
Inside the vessel, authorities reported finding approximately 1,309 pounds of what they believed to be cocaine, estimated to be worth about $9.4 million. According to CBP, a field test confirmed the substance was indeed cocaine.
The Homeland Security Task Force is spearheading the investigation into the seized material, along with prosecutorial efforts.
“Air and Marine Operations is dedicated to safeguarding Puerto Rico’s maritime borders and disrupting criminal organizations that aim to smuggle dangerous drugs through the Caribbean,” commented Christopher Hunter, the Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch.
He went on to reiterate that “This seizure reflects the value of coordinated maritime enforcement and the vigilance of our personnel and partner agencies.”
Vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean have become a point of contention, with some critics of the administration arguing that military actions against these boats are extrajudicial.
These military actions came before a January operation in which U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and brought him to the United States for legal proceedings. Recently, a superseding indictment announced on October 8 charged him and his wife with various serious crimes, including conspiracy to commit torture and narcoterrorism.
