SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard and British Virgin Islands law enforcement seized 52 pounds of cocaine, and detained two men, during an at-sea interdiction Tuesday near Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
The seized cocaine shipment was estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $797,500.
The interdiction was a result of an ongoing joint multi-agency law enforcement effort to detect and deter illegal narcotics flow in the Caribbean.
While on a joint patrol, members of a Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) team accompanied by a Her Majesty’s Customs officer detected and interdicted a suspicious vessel near Tortola close to midnight Tuesday. Following the interdiction, a total of 24 bricks of contraband were discovered and later tested positive for cocaine onboard the 32-foot recreational vessel. British Virgin Islands authorities took custody of the suspects, seized the vessel and contraband and referred the matter for prosecution in the British Virgin Islands..
“The strong working relationship between the U.S. Coast Guard and British Virgin Islands law enforcement led to a successful interdiction and seizure of illicit contraband,” stated Capt. Robert Warren, Sector San Juan Commander. “The coordinated efforts for last night’s interdiction furthered our collective resolve to stem the flow of illicit smuggling operations between our nations.”
A Coast Guard MSST is a specialized force trained, equipped, and frequently employed to conduct operations locally, support maritime security missions worldwide, and rapidly deploy in response to emergent threats or the needs of the country.