The US Coast Guard seized more than 3,500 pounds of marijuana with an estimated wholesale value of $3.5 million and detained five suspected smugglers during a drug interdiction in the Caribbean Sea, southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
While on patrol July 8, the Coast Guard Cutter Northland detected the suspicious 68-foot motor vessel An-Nur transiting the Caribbean Sea with five crewmembers onboard. Northland’s boarding team discovered 3,591 pounds of marijuana onboard.
The Northland crew seized the marijuana, detained the crew, and took the An-Nur in tow.
“The strong international, federal and local law enforcement partnerships in our area have again proven their effectiveness in preventing drug shipments from reaching Caribbean shores,” said Capt. Robert Warren, Commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan. “We are committed to disrupting the flow of illegal drugs in the Caribbean Sea and will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute suspected smugglers.”
The Northland transferred the illegal drug shipment, the vessel, and detainees to the custody of Customs and Border Protection and Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents, who will be leading a criminal investigation into the case as part of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force.
“Once again the combined efforts of federal law enforcement agencies resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of narcotics,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Our message continues to be the same: we will detect and interdict drug smugglers attempting to flood our island with their poisonous cargo. These arrests are a clear indication of the continued success of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force.”
Since October 2013, the Coast Guard has seized 17,591 kilograms of cocaine and 4,341 pounds of marijuana during 25 counter-drug interdictions under Operation Unified Resolve, in partnership with regional law enforcement authorities in the Caribbean. The wholesale value for these seizures is worth more than $444 million.
The Coast Guard’s efforts under Operation Unified Resolve contribute to the interagency results being achieved each and every day locally under Operation Caribbean Guard, which coordinates efforts between the Coast Guard, DHS and Commonwealth and Territorial law enforcement partners, who are working diligently to deter, detect and disrupt illicit maritime trafficking to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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