The US Coast Guard has outlined that a total of 1289 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of US$11.7 million was retrieved at Coast Guard Base San Juan following two separate vessel interdictions in the Caribbean Sea near Puerto Rico.

This find, as indicated by the Coast guard, occurred during a routine patrol on April 11, after the crew of a US Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft sighted a suspect vessel in waters northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

In addition to the find, the US Coast Guard also indicated that the vessel was carrying four men, Dominican Republic nationals, and six bales of suspected contraband, which tested positive for cocaine.

Further reports also outlined that during a routine patrol on April 6, the crew of a US Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft sighted a suspect vessel north of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, The US Coast guard has given the assurance that increased efforts will be made to stem drug smuggling within the vicinity.

“Safeguarding the nation’s southernmost maritime border is among our top priorities,” said Captain Gregory H. Magee, Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander. You can expect to see many more of these interdictions from the Coast Guard and from our local and federal partners, as we work together to stop drug smuggling go-fast vessels from making landfall in the Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands ” He added.

As it now stands, the apprehended drug smugglers will be charged with Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Aboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States.