ICE, DHS partners seize 361 kilograms of cocaine
Contraband has an estimated street value of more than $8 million
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), the Coast Guard and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) seized 361 kilograms of cocaine and arrested 10 individuals for drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms following an at-sea interdiction Feb. 21. The contraband has an estimated street value of more than $8 million.
The contraband, 13 bales containing 329 bricks of cocaine with a weight of 361 kilograms, was intercepted 74 nautical miles south of Vieques. The 10 individuals detained in conjunction of the seizure are allegedly members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation of multi-kilograms of cocaine to the United States through Puerto Rico.
“HSI will continue working with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and prosecute those who in flagrant disregard of our laws and way of life try to smuggle or transport illegal contraband into or outside our area of jurisdiction,” said Ricardo Mayoral, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “This seizure demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together with vigilance and a commitment to enforce our nation's customs laws.”
The HSI investigation continues.
In spite of the enormous resources of criminal organizations and their continuous efforts to introduce narcotics and illegal arms into Puerto Rico, HSI San Juan, working jointly with the Coast Guard, CBP and PRPD, closed the 2015 fiscal year with an unprecedented number of seizures, including 48,572 pounds of narcotics. This represents a 93 percent increase in narcotics seizures compared to 25,041 pounds during the previous fiscal year. HSI and DHS federal agencies seized 27,196 pounds of cocaine which represents a 47 percent increase compared to 18,466 pounds seized in FY2014. The FY2015 also showed a surge in heroin seizures with an increase of 170 percent from 39 pounds in FY 2014 to 62 pounds in FY2015. Likewise, marijuana seizures increased by 170 percent in FY2015 with 6369 pounds seized in FY2014 compared to 17,962 in FY2015.
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