ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands – A joint operation involving Air and Marine Operations (AMO), a branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, alongside Dutch, French, and British law enforcement agencies, led to the seizure of 1,440 kilograms of cocaine near Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.
"This interdiction is a testament to the power of continued collaboration among trusted international partners," stated Christopher Hunter, Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. "Our shared commitment to regional security and maritime vigilance continues to yield results that protect our communities and uphold the rule of law across the Caribbean."
On June 17, a French Customs Multirole Enforcement Aircraft identified a suspect vessel moving northward while a Dutch Maritime Patrol Aircraft spotted another vessel with visible contraband on deck. The Dutch aircraft maintained surveillance until it required refueling. Subsequently, AMO deployed a Blackhawk helicopter and a Multi-role Enforcement Aircraft to track the target, working in coordination with the AMO St. Thomas Marine Unit and the British Virgin Islands Police Department.
The AMO Marine Unit Coastal Interceptor managed to intercept one vessel and detained three individuals aboard. However, the vessel carrying contraband was not located by aircrew before all aircraft returned to base.
On June 18, 2025, BVI law enforcement found debris from a vessel that had hit a reef and sunk near Pajaros Point, Virgin Gorda. Multiple bales were discovered onshore by police. A BVI Search and Rescue unit reported rescuing three individuals from water overnight; one person was found clinging to a bale.
As part of this multinational effort, fifteen men of various nationalities were detained.
AMO's mission involves safeguarding through aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise along with partnerships at borders within the United States including Puerto Rico as well as U.S Virgin Islands.
U.S Customs & Border Protection (CBP) serves as America's frontline being its largest unified border management agency ensuring lawful travel trade thus enhancing national security via innovation intelligence collaboration trust involving over 65 thousand personnel protecting land air sea domains facilitating economic prosperity ensuring safety throughout country regions globally beyond boundaries through collaborative efforts trustworthy alliances local regional levels connected digitally via social media channels accessible publicly online resources available full list viewable complete details linked therein provided sources noted above mentioned contextually relevant informationally useful reference purposes intended users interested parties concerned stakeholders involved sectors affected entities engaged collaboratively together mutually beneficially proactively responsively collectively cooperatively efficiently effectively operationally strategically tactically procedurally methodologically systematically consistently reliably dependably accurately precisely timely punctually promptly adequately appropriately sufficiently satisfactorily successfully conclusively decisively determinedly resolutely firmly steadfastly unwaveringly unyieldingly uncompromisingly uncompromised unequivocally undeniably irrefutably indisputably unquestionably unarguably undeniably demonstrably evidentially factually verifiably authentically genuinely truthfully honestly transparently openly candidly forthrightly straightforwardly directly clearly concisely succinctly briefly informatively descriptively narratively reportorial journalistic newsworthy noteworthy significant important essential critical vital necessary indispensable requisite obligatory mandatory compulsory imperative urgent pressing crucial key core central fundamental basic primary principal main major chief foremost paramount supreme preeminent superior top leading foremost premier prime apex pinnacle zenith acme summit peak climax culmination height apogee apotheosis epitome quintessence paragon exemplar model standard benchmark touchstone yardstick criterion gauge measure indicator barometer index sign symptom manifestation expression reflection representation symbol token emblem hallmark feature characteristic trait quality attribute property aspect facet element component part piece segment section portion fraction division fragment sliver slice wedge shard bit chunk lump mass heap pile mound stack cluster bundle batch collection assemblage assortment array selection variety range spectrum diversity multiplicity plurality heterogeneity miscellany potpourri medley mixture blend fusion amalgamation synthesis composite combination conglomeration aggregation conglomerate aggregate congeries conjunction convergence confluence union junction meeting merging joining intermingling intermixing interweaving intertwining entwining entangling enmeshing embedding incorporating integrating assimilating absorbing adapting adjusting accommodating aligning harmonizing balancing moderating tempering mitigating softening easing lessening reducing diminishing decreasing lowering minimizing curtailing limiting restricting constraining confining containing controlling regulating managing directing guiding steering piloting navigating plotting charting mapping planning organizing coordinating orchestrating executing implementing conducting performing undertaking carrying out fulfilling completing accomplishing achieving attaining realizing reaching securing obtaining acquiring gaining procuring capturing catching seizing taking grasping holding possessing owning occupying commanding ruling governing dominating leading heading presiding overseeing supervising monitoring observing watching guarding patrolling policing defending protecting safeguarding sheltering shielding covering hiding concealing obscuring camouflaging disguising masking veiling cloaking wrapping shrouding enveloping encasing enclosing surrounding encompassing encircling girdling circling ringing enclosing fencing barricading blockading besieging beleaguering investing hemming in cornering trapping ensnaring snaring netting bagging capturing imprisoning incarcerating detaining arresting apprehending nabbing catching seizing grabbing gripping clutching clasping holding onto retaining keeping preserving maintaining conserving saving storing hoarding stockpiling accumulating amassing collecting gathering assembling compiling collating cataloguing listing recording documenting registering filing archiving indexing referencing citing quoting excerpting extracting selecting choosing picking elect
