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  4. CBP Interdicts Four Men Smuggling 614 Pounds of Cocaine near Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

CBP Interdicts Four Men Smuggling 614 Pounds of Cocaine near Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

Release Date
Fri, 08/07/2020

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection components, US Border Patrol and Air and Marine Operations (AMO) interdicted four men that were caught smuggling 614 pounds (278.6 Kilos) of cocaine Friday near Cabo Rojo.  The estimated value of the seized contraband is $ 7 million.  A cocaine brick is taken out from the bags seized.

“This is just a dent in this drug trafficking business. Every time a shipment of narcotics enters Puerto Rico, a series of criminal events is triggered that almost always ends in violence and murder,” stated Xavier Morales, Chief Patrol Agent for Ramey Sector. “It is everyone's responsibility to ensure our safety and improve our quality of life in Puerto Rico. We ask that you report any suspicious activity in your community. It's up to all of us.”

Late Thursday evening, a Border Patrol agent on patrol detected a lights out vessel with persons on board land near Villa Pesquera in Cabo Rojo, offloading items on a vehicle parked nearby.  The agent requested assistance.

A CBP Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) conducting a border security patrol detected a vessel was lights out heading southbound at a high rate of speed.  The MPA maintained surveillance of the suspect vessel to assist an AMO Marine Unit to intercept, arresting two men on board. 

On land Border Patrol ground units along with Cabo Rojo Municipal Police, an Operation Stonegarden partner, intercepted the suspected vehicle near la Pita Haya ward of Cabo Rojo, arresting two men, and one person absconded.  Inside the vehicle 11 bales of cocaine were found.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assumed custody of the contraband along with four men, two from the Dominican Republic and two United States citizens, for investigation and prosecution. 

The Operation Stonegarden Grant Program (OPSG) is designed to enhance cooperation and coordination from the U.S. Border Patrol with local, tribal, territorial, state and federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the border.   

The Ramey Sector is one of the twenty-one Sectors spread out across the United States. Encompassing the U.S. territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, it is the only Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States. The Sector's entire border area is made up of coastline and its area of responsibility is made up of some 6,000 square miles of land and water area, including the twelve-mile band of territorial water surrounding the Islands.

For anonymous tips, contact us at 1(800)981-1313.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021