San Juan, Puerto Rico - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a duffel bag containing 9 bricks of cocaine inside a container in the Port of San Juan late Tuesday afternoon. The bricks weighed 22.9 pounds with an estimated street value of $249, 120.
"Smuggling organizations try to conceal their loads by any means possible and use many venues to avoid detection from law enforcement," stated Juan Hurtado, San Juan Area port director. "Our officers remain vigilant managing all risk factors to deter these smuggling attempts."
Upon inspection of containers on board the vessel M/V Paradero, arriving from Santo Domingo to the port of San Juan, CBP officers found the black duffel bag containing the cocaine comingled with the rest of the cargo.
As a result of the seizure, an individual, who works as a security guard at the port was arrested.
CBP Officers contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, who responded and took custody of the seized narcotics. The HSI investigation is ongoing.
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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.