C.B.P. News Releases

CBP Interdicts Vessel Carrying 241 Kilograms of Cocaine

(Thursday, August 12, 2010)

Aguadilla, P.R. – Last night U.S. Customs and Border Protection air and marine units intercepted a makeshift vessel with 241 kilograms of cocaine on board near the west coast of the island.

At approximately 8:00 p.m., a DHC-8 aircraft from the CBP Caribbean Air and Marine Branch detected a makeshift vessel or "yola" traveling towards Puerto Rico with the lights out.

Two CBP Marine Interceptors located the suspect vessel, requesting the occupants to heave; ensuing a marine pursuit, to which the vessel eventually complied.

Upon boarding the vessel, the Marine Interdiction Agents discovered 209 bricks of a substance believed to be cocaine, which a field test confirmed. The estimated street value of the seized contraband is approximately $8 million.

The occupants, Joel Badillo Morales and Carlos Rodriguez Agudo, U.S. citizens, along with the narcotics and vessel, were transported to the Boqueron Marine Unit headquarters, the custody of which was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further processing.

The ICE investigation is on-going.

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
Juan A. Munoz-Torres
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (202) 344-3114 or
(202) 359-2641
Fax: (202) 344-1393

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