The Coast Guard landed two smugglers and 430 kilograms of cocaine that were delivered to federal authorities at the San Juan Sector facility on Wednesday, after days before it intercepted a speedboat in the Caribbean Sea carrying the drug.
“The positive result in this case is a reflection of the professionalism and unwavering determination of the Richard Dixon crew and the other fellow Coast Guardsmen as well as our partners in the federal agencies involved in this case,” said Lt. Matthew Monahan, Commanding Officer. from Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon of the US Coast Guard (WPC-1113) in written communication.
“Our collective efforts prevented 430 kilograms of cocaine from reaching the streets and the two smugglers now having their day in court,” he added.
The interdiction was the result of the efforts of various agencies in support of the enhanced anti-narcotics operations of the United States Southern Command in the Western Hemisphere, the Task Force Against Organized Drug Crime (OCDETF) program and the Caribbean Corridor Attack (CCSF). The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico is leading the prosecution of this case.
The seized drug shipment has an estimated value of $ 12 million.
The interception occurred Sunday afternoon after a suspicious boat, about 30 feet, with two people on board, was detected by the crew during the patrol of a US maritime surveillance plane.
Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon responded to the sighting and stopped the smugglers’ boat with the help of his small tactical launch. The Richard Dixon’s boarding team found 21 bales of suspected contraband aboard the stopped vessel that the smugglers attempted to hide with a blue tarp. The boarding team placed the two men in custody and transferred them to the coast guard ship as did the cocaine shipment.
The seized cocaine, which was destined to reach the United States, and the two smugglers were transferred to Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier (WPC-1115) and transported to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where federal CCSF agents received custody.
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