US CBP, AMO, partners seize nearly 5 tons of cocaine in 4 days

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations  P-3 crews worked with federal partners to seize 9,652 pounds (4.8 tons) of cocaine over three events Oct. 7 – 10, denying transnational criminal organizations approximately $127 million in proceeds.

On Oct. 7, a P-3 aircrew responded to a report of a suspicious boat in the Eastern Pacific. After monitoring the watercraft, AMO agents contacted two partner nation maritime crews, who deployed to the scene, locating a debris field containing 44 bales of cocaine, weighing approximately 3,364 pounds.

Another P-3 crew assumed monitoring of a suspect go-fast vessel in the Caribbean Sea on Oct. 9. AMO agents contacted a partner nation maritime crew to interdict the watercraft. The maritime team detained three people and seized 58 bales of contraband, which weighed approximately 3,031 pounds of cocaine.

The next day, a P-3 crew operating in the Eastern Pacific responded to a report of a suspicious vessel. AMO agents located the vessel and coordinated with partner nation maritime teams. They detained three people, seizing approximately 3,257 pounds of cocaine.