August 16, 10

NEWS / CBP Interdicts Vessel Carrying 241 Kilograms of Cocaine

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.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/08122010_6.xml