The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says agents from its Air and Marine Operations (AMO) unit intercepted a drug-laden vessel in the Caribbean Sea, arresting three Venezuelan nationals and seizing more than half a ton of cocaine.
In a statement, CBP revealed that the early-morning bust took place on July 12, when a Caribbean-based AMO surveillance asset detected a suspicious vessel traveling northward about six nautical miles south of Punta Tuna in Maunabo, southeastern Puerto Rico.
In response, the AMO Fajardo Marine unit launched a Coastal Interceptor Vessel and dispatched Marine Interdiction Agents to the area. The suspect vessel—a yola-type boat commonly used for smuggling—refused to stop and made landfall at Playa Mario in Maunabo.
Agents moved in quickly, detaining three individuals—identified as Venezuelan nationals—who lacked legal documentation to enter or remain in the United States. A total of 16 bales of cocaine, weighing approximately 1,009 pounds, were recovered from the vessel. The estimated street value of the seizure is US$8.2 million.
The suspects and the contraband were handed over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation and potential prosecution.
“This significant interdiction highlights our continued commitment to protecting U.S. borders and stopping illicit narcotics from reaching our communities,” CBP said in the release.
The agency did not release the names of the suspects, citing the ongoing investigation.
