U.S. Customs and Border Protection uncovered a significant cocaine seizure in Puerto Rico, spotlighting the region’s role in transnational drug trafficking. On June 21, authorities discovered 518 pounds of cocaine, valued at $4.2 million, near Rincon.
The operation began when a Caribbean Air and Marine Operations (AMO) unit detected a suspect vessel about three nautical miles southwest of Black Eagle Beach. Border Patrol agents from the Ramey Sector responded swiftly, locating a 22-foot white boat with a 60-horsepower engine abandoned on the shore.
Onboard the vessel, officers discovered eight bales containing the cocaine. Border Patrol seized the contraband and transferred custody to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further examination.
This cocaine seizure in Puerto Rico demonstrates the strategic coordination between CBP’s operational branches—Air and Marine Operations and the U.S. Border Patrol. The Ramey Sector, which covers Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is the only sector outside the continental U.S. and manages more than 6,000 square miles of land and water. Its mission is critical, given that the entire border is composed of vulnerable coastline.
AMO’s work remains vital in anticipating and neutralizing threats to national security. Their aerial and maritime surveillance capabilities are essential for intercepting narcotics trafficking in remote and challenging environments.
This case is yet another reminder of how criminal networks attempt to exploit geographic isolation. However, the collaborative actions by federal agencies continue to thwart those efforts and protect U.S. territories from the damage caused by illicit drugs.
22 June 2025
Source: US Customs
