Interagency Partnership Leads to Arrests, More than $12 Million Narcotics Seizure

(Saturday, August 29, 2009)

Aguadilla, P.R. - More than 350 pounds of cocaine and 12 pounds of heroin were seized Friday evening off the coast of Aguadilla. Agents and officers from Customs and Border Protection’s Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB), U.S. Border Patrol, and Field Operations worked in conjunction and successfully apprehended a 22-foot yola-type vessel without incident.

Agents from CAMB who were tracking the vessel, contacted the Ramey Border Patrol Station for assistance, as the vessel landed near the Wishing Well beach area of Aguadilla. Converging agents and officers from the three agencies were able to secure the abandoned vessel and apprehend the two subjects attempting to flee from the boat.

Upon inspection of the vessel, several duffel bags of contraband were discovered, including five packages of heroin and 135 packages of cocaine. Agents from FBI and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement interviewed the two subjects, who were subsequently processed for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This is yet another fine example of the collaboration between the various agencies of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group working together for a common cause. Working in tandem with our partners in the Department of Justice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue to stem the flow of illegal traffic across the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
Jason Callanan
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (787) 890-4975

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 292009.xml