U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents recently intercepted approximately $4.3 million worth of cocaine near Mona Island in Puerto Rico. The narcotics, weighing around 384 pounds, were being smuggled by three non-citizens aboard a boat known as a yola.
Creighton Skeen, the acting director of AMO in the Caribbean, praised the operation's success. "This successful interdiction near Mona Island is a testament to the dedication of our Air and Marine agents," said Skeen. "Our collective efforts have dealt a significant blow to criminal enterprises seeking to exploit our maritime borders for illicit activities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to securing our communities and preventing the harmful effects of drug trafficking."
According to a news release from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an AMO Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) spotted the yola heading towards the northwest portion of Mona Islands with its lights off. As an AMO Marine unit approached the boat, its captain failed to stop, prompting individuals on board to begin discarding bales of cocaine into the water.
The news release further stated that one Venezuelan and two Dominican Republic nationals were apprehended by Marine Interdiction agents. Three bales of cocaine were recovered from the water, with the entire seizure subsequently handed over to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigation officials for further investigation and prosecution.
Denise Foster, DEA’s Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in combating drug trafficking. "The dedication of all maritime surveillance assets is crucial to the success of the mission at hand," Foster said. "We will continue to work with our counterparts and allocate all our law enforcement resources to make a greater impact in vulnerable areas where criminal organizations dedicated to drug trafficking are causing greater damage. These individuals pose the greatest threat to the safety and health of our citizens."
