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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, CMC – The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says agents from its Air and Marine Operations (AMO) have nabbed a yola-type vessel, arresting three Venezuela nationals and seizing 1,009 pounds of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.
The estimated value of the cocaine seized off southeastern Puerto Rico is US$8.2 million.
CBP said that, at midnight on July 12, a Caribbean AMO asset detected a suspect vessel navigating north about six nautical miles south of Punta Tuna, Maunabo, Puerto Rico.
The AMO Fajardo Marine unit deployed the crew of a Coastal Interceptor Vessel, as well as Marine Interdiction Agents, by vehicle, to the vicinity of Punta Tuna, CBP said.
“The AMO vessel crew intercepted a yola-type vessel, which failed to heave, making landfall in Playa Mario, Maunabo,” CBP said.
“Marine Interdiction Agents arrested three Venezuelan nationals without proper documentation to enter or remain in the United States legally and seized a total of 16 bales of cocaine.”
CBP said the Venezuelans and the contraband were transferred to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for investigation and prosecution.
