More than 57 kilograms of cocaine, heroin seized at Puerto Rican ports

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, working jointly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, seized $1.2 million worth of cocaine and $409,000 worth of heroin Monday at the ports of Fajardo and San Juan, respectively.

While participating in a joint operation in support of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) Monday at the port of Fajardo, CBP and Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) officers detected 50 kilograms of cocaine in a vehicle onboard the ferry Cayo Blanco, which arrived from the municipality of Culebra.

A search of the vehicle revealed a suitcase containing brick-shaped items wrapped in gray tape, which tested positive to cocaine during a field test. HSI took custody of the contraband for further investigation.

At the port of San Juan, CBP officers and HSI special agents seized 7.3 kilograms of heroin hidden in a vehicle arriving from the Dominican Republic. Jaironel Lajara, 23, of San Juan, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

CBIG was formally created to unify efforts of HSI, CBP, the U.S. Coast Guard, the PRPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in their common goal of securing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal maritime traffic.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected weapons and narcotics smuggling and related information by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. For more information, visit www.ice.gov.