Air and Marine Operations (AMO), part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, successfully intercepted a vessel during a maritime operation north of Hatillo, Puerto Rico, on Monday. Officials apprehended six individuals from the Dominican Republic and confiscated 399 pounds of cocaine.
Christopher Hunter, Director of Air and Marine Operations in the Caribbean, emphasized the significance of the operation. "This successful interdiction highlights the critical role maritime domain awareness plays in securing our borders," he stated. Hunter added that the operation utilized intelligence, surveillance assets, and interagency coordination, reflecting AMO's commitment to combating illegal activities.
On April 27, a Caribbean Air and Marine Branch Multirole Enforcement Aircraft spotted an Eduardoño type vessel traveling without navigation lights approximately 50 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico. AMO's San Juan Marine Unit responded by deploying a Coastal Interceptor vessel, which intercepted the suspicious vessel 11 nautical miles north of Hatillo, PR.
Authorities discovered six individuals from the Dominican Republic lacking legal documentation to enter the United States and six bales of cocaine. Both the individuals and the contraband were handed over to Special Agents from the Homeland Security Investigation San Juan Border Enforcement Security Task Force for further proceedings.
According to AMO, their operations are crucial in anticipating and addressing security threats within the air and maritime environments across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees AMO operations, is dedicated to protecting the nation through innovative methods and strong inter-agency partnerships.
