Spanish
San Juan.- The United States Border Patrol in Puerto Rico (CBP, for its acronym in English) announced this Tuesday that it seized more than 420 kilos of cocaine, valued at more than 6.7 million dollars on the black market, in a vessel from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
"Our agents remain vigilant and committed to protecting our borders, even during the holiday season", stated Kian Tomas, director of the Port of San Juan, in a statement.
You may be interested in: National Directorate for Drug Control
According to the authorities, the seizure took place on December 24 at the port facilities of San Juan when CBP agents were inspecting the cargo on board the passenger and cargo ship, they detected irregularities in the chassis of a platform. The uniformed officers conducted a more thorough inspection, including a search with drug-sniffing dogs, which resulted in a positive alert. A subsequent examination revealed a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. "This seizure highlights the commitment and professionalism of our team to prevent dangerous drugs from reaching our communities," Tomas stated. CBP agents extracted the drug in coordination with the Puerto Rico Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Drug seizures in the waters off the west coast of Puerto Rico are frequent, as the so-called Mona Passage, which separates this island from the Dominican Republic, is a route commonly used for drug trafficking.
