US CBP AMO seizes more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine and arrests 3 Venezuelan aliens near Puerto Rico

Air and Marine Operations (AMO), an operational component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, nabbed a yola-type vessel Saturday arresting 3 aliens from the Venezuela and seizing 1,009 pounds (457.8 kilograms) of cocaine in southeastern Puerto Rico.  The estimated value of the seized cocaine is $8.2 million.  

At midnight on July 12, a Caribbean Air and Marine Operations asset detected a suspect vessel navigating north approximately 6 nautical miles south of Punta Tuna, Maunabo, Puerto Rico.  The AMO Fajardo Marine unit deployed the crew of a Coastal Interceptor Vessel crew as well as Marine Interdiction Agents, by vehicle, to the vicinity of Punta Tuna. 

The AMO vessel crew intercepted a yola-type vessel, which failed to heave, making landfall in Playa Mario, Maunabo.  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.

The aliens and the contraband were transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for investigation and prosecution.