Agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations seized a shipment of 1,259 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside secret compartments on two boats that attempted to enter through the southern municipality of Patillas, on the afternoon of last Thursday, June 15th. The estimated street value of the seized cocaine is approximately 28.9 million dollars.

The director of Air and Maritime Operations of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch, Augusto Reyes, said that the southeast coast of Puerto Rico has been the target of Transnational Criminal Organizations to introduce large amounts of contraband using various tactics.

“The determination and hard work of our agents have produced the seizure of more than 15,000 pounds of cocaine during these last five months, which is now off the streets of Puerto Rico and the east coast of the United States,” he said.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took custody of the narcotics for investigation, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested four men for their prosecution.

jrr/llp/oda/nrm