U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations intercepted a vessel south of Salinas, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, according to a news release by CBP.
A CBP DHC-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected the vessel which had two individuals on board and was heading north without any navigational lights. The vessel was met by a CBP interceptor four nautical miles south of Salinas, Puerto Rico. The two individuals on board were arrested by CBP Marine Agents. One of them claimed to be from the Dominican Republic and the other from Venezuela.
Twenty bales of contraband, weighing 1,320 pounds, were seized by CBP and tested positive for cocaine. The cocaine is estimated to be worth $17 million.
“Air and Marine Agents always remain vigilant to interdict and arrest criminals trying to smuggle narcotics through our coastal areas,” said Johnny Morales, Director of Air Operations at the CBP Caribbean Air and Marine Branch.