SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser offloaded 489 pounds in seized cocaine and transferred custody of three suspects to Homeland Security Task Force San Juan law enforcement authorities at Coast Guard Base San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday.

The contraband seizure and apprehension followed the interdiction of a go-fast smuggling vessel in Atlantic waters off Puerto Rico, Oct. 10, 2026.  The seized cocaine is estimated to have a wholesale value of $5.5 million.

Federal agents took custody of the three men, including two Dominican Republic nationals and one Chinese national, pending further investigation.

“We are proud of our Coast Guard watchstanders, our aircrew and the cutter Winslow Griesser crew for achieving a successful interdiction,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Sector San Juan chief response. “This interdiction demonstrates the proficiency of our operational crews and valued partners who work tirelessly to intercept deadly narcotics before they reach our shores, protect our citizens, and dismantle the criminal networks that threaten our region.”

During a routine law enforcement patrol, the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft detected a suspect go-fast vessel transiting in Atlantic Ocean waters north of Isabela, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the cutter Winslow Griesser to interdict the suspect vessel.  Once on scene, the Winslow Griesser crew stopped the vessel, seized the contraband and embarked the three men who were aboard.

This interdiction is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

From U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District, Oct. 20. 2026