The U.S. Coast Guard recently made a significant drug bust off the coast of Puerto Rico, seizing nearly 400 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $4.3 million. The operation took place after the crew of a Coast Guard aircraft spotted a suspicious vessel heading towards Rincón, a beach town on Puerto Rico’s western coast. The vessel was intercepted by the Joseph Tezanos, a fast response cutter craft based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Upon searching the vessel, Coast Guard officials discovered 142 packages of suspected contraband, which later tested positive for cocaine. Two men aboard the ship, both U.S. citizens, were arrested and handed over to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). They now face federal charges related to drug trafficking, with a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life.
The successful interdiction was praised by United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, who commended the Coast Guard for their efforts in combating international drug smuggling. This operation was part of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force, a task force comprising various agencies working together to combat illicit drug trafficking in the region.
This seizure is just one of many recent drug busts in Puerto Rico, highlighting the island’s role as a transit point for narcotics destined for the U.S. mainland and other countries. In previous months, federal officials have seized large quantities of cocaine, including a $33 million haul left on a beach in Vieques and over 660 pounds of drugs from a boat near Puerto Rico.
The ongoing efforts of the Coast Guard, DEA, FBI, Homeland Security, and ICE in the region demonstrate a commitment to disrupting the flow of illegal substances and keeping communities safe. The collaborative nature of these operations underscores the importance of multi-agency task forces in addressing drug trafficking and related criminal activities.
