Arrests Made in US$50 Million Cocaine Bust In Caribbean Waters

Arrests Made in US$50 Million Cocaine Bust In Caribbean Waters
Author

Media Report

Release Date

Friday, July 4, 2014

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The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) agency says its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with the Caribbean Border Corridor Strike Force (CCSF), has seized 1774 kilograms of cocaine near Dorado, Puerto Rico and arrested two Venezuelan nationals for drug trafficking.

ICE said that on March 31, a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) marine patrol aircraft detected a suspicious “Zodiac-type vessel” 15 miles off the north coast of Dorado.

ICE added that the patrol aircraft coordinated with CBP marine units to intercept the Zodiac, and on noticing the presence of law enforcement, the two occupants, Reny Alexander Lopez-Meneces and Andri Rivas-Rojas, both of Venezuela, “began to jettison what appeared to be bales of contraband into the water” , and one of the Zodiac crew members fell overboard.

CBP officers rescued the man and recovered three bales from the water, which later tested positive to cocaine, ICE said.

The second crew member was subsequently arrested, and officers seized a total of 61 bales of cocaine, weighing 1774 kilograms, with an estimated street value of US $50 million.

“HSI is committed to working with our federal, state and local counterparts in an effort to stop the movement of contraband in the Caribbean,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan.

“Those involved in drug trafficking should know that the Caribbean is no longer an option to transship narcotics into the United States,” he added.

US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez, said “these arrests are a clear indication of the continued success of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force.

“This is just another example of the fine work our state and federal law enforcement partners accomplish every day,” he said.

“With the continued collaboration and assistance of our law enforcement partners, we will continue our efforts to bring the most powerful and prolific drug organizations to justice,” he added.


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