Investigators recovered more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine from a vessel operating nearly 50 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, the agency confirmed to News Outlet.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon stopped the suspected drug-smuggling boat on Saturday, Aug. 22, with support from Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported the seizure of more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine off Puerto Rico’s coast. (U.S. Coast Guard)
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Authorities said the haul totaled an estimated 7,250 pounds of cocaine, with an approximate street value of $54.5 million.
Five people who were aboard the alleged smuggling vessel were detained and taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
Five people were detained following the cocaine bust, and officials said the investigation remains active. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The Coast Guard later destroyed the vessel, saying it “posed a hazard to navigation.”
The Coast Guard destroyed the suspected smuggling boat as it posed a navigational hazard, the agency said. (U.S. Coast Guard)
In a statement, Lieutenant Commander Michael D. Torgesen said: “An outstanding team effort thanks to seamless coordination with Coast Guard and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] air assets, cutter Richard Dixon was in the right place at the right time to stop a major shipment. I’m constantly humbled by my crew’s dedication and am proud to serve alongside them as we strike a direct blow against transnational smuggling operations and protect the nation’s maritime borders in the Caribbean.”
The Coast Guard broke up the suspected smuggling operation. (U.S. Coast Guard)
Coast Guard Southeast District Commander Admiral Adam Chamie said, “This interdiction shows what ready crews and strong interagency partnerships can achieve in the maritime domain.”
The Coast Guard has yet to announce charges in the operation.
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The cocaine bust announcement follows another development this week as the agency reached a milestone in which more than 75,000 pounds of illicit narcotics, valued at $473 million, were offloaded in Port Everglades in Miami, Florida, on Monday.
