During an operation on January 1, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a vessel smuggling $11 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.
The intervention led to the death of an unidentified individual from the Dominican Republic.
Reports are that the Coast Guard officials aboard a U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots and disabling fire as they pursued the fleeing boat.
Upon boarding the vessel, they discovered an injured crew member who was evacuated to the Dominican Republic and succumbed to their injuries.
A rare incident
Fatal incidents involving the Coast Guard are rare, and an investigation is underway.
Spokesman Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal stressed that the organization takes any loss of life seriously and is working to investigate the matter.
Smugglers apprehended, cocaine seized
According to media reports, the Coast Guard arrested two other smugglers and seized 848 pounds (385 kilograms) of cocaine from the intercepted vessel.
