Coast Guard, CBP Interdict 3 Suspected Smugglers, 220 Pounds of Cocaine

SAN JUAN,
Puerto Rico — The U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection Air and
Marine Operations Branch (CBP AMIO) interdicted about 220 pounds of cocaine 41
miles southwest of Cabo Rojo, according to the Coast Guard 7th District.

A CBP AMIO
aircraft crew located a 20-foot go-fast vessel with three people and suspicious
duffle bags aboard. Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders diverted the
Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos (WPC-1118) crew to the scene to interdict.
While en route to the vessel, the Tezanos crew spotted the go-fast crew
throwing nine duffle bags overboard.

The Tezanos
crew recovered six of the bags, embarked the three suspected smugglers,
destroyed the go-fast vessel as a danger to navigation and transferred the
smugglers and interdicted cocaine to Coast Guard Investigative Services agents
in Puerto Rico.

“This case highlighted
the strong partnership between Customs and Border Protection and the Coast
Guard,” said Capt. Gregory Magee, Sector San Juan deputy commander.
“This interdiction would not have been possible without our established
relationship and great work by their aircrews.”