US CBP and AMO Seizes 1987 Pounds of Cocaine from a Vessel Attempting to Reach Guayama, Puerto Rico

US Customs and Border Protection ( US CBP ) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents seized Monday 1,987pounds (901.2 kilos) of cocaine from a vessel attempting to reach the coast of Guayama, Puerto Rico.  The estimated street value of the contraband is $20.7 million.

“Even as we mourn our fallen colleague, our determination remains steadfast to detect and intercept any attempts to smuggle contraband to our shores,” stated Augusto Reyes, Director of Air and Marine Operations in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

On Nov.28, the crew of an AMO Multi Role Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) detected a go-fast vessel with two outboard engines and three persons on board moving north towards the islands southern coast.

The MEA crew-maintained surveillance of the vessel assisting Ponce and Fajardo based Coastal Interceptor Vessel crews to interdict the suspect vessel 20 nautical miles south of Guayama, Puerto Rico. 

The Marine agents found 31 bales of contraband and four males who claimed to be from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.