CBP AMO
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents seized over $30 million worth of cocaine from a boat off the coast of Puerto Rico. The agents made the bust along with the Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces for Rapid Action (FURA) during the morning hours of Aug. 6.
The agents discovered the massive cocaine load on a yola-type vessel in which three aliens, from Colombia and Panama, were operating illegally. They were alerted to the suspect vessel as it was navigating north, in the direction towards the municipalities of Lajas and Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, by a Caribbean Air and Marine Operations asset. Once notified, the Michel Maceda Marine unit deployed the crew of a Coastal Interceptor Vessel crew as well as a FURA Marine unit to intercept the suspect vessel.
What they found
According to a CBP press release announcing the drug seizure, “AMO and FURA intercepted an Eduardoño yola-type vessel, 2 nautical miles from the coast near “la Pitahaya” sector of Cabo Rojo. Marine Interdiction Agents arrested 2 Colombian and 1 Panamanian nationals, without proper documentation to enter or remain in the United States legally and seized a total of 60 extra-large bales and 2 large bales of cocaine.”
The bales contained 1,789.1 kilograms (3,944.3 pounds) of cocaine with an estimated street value of $30.4 million. The aliens and the contraband were transferred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for investigation and prosecution.
🚨 $30 MILLION COKE BUST! Marine Interdiction Agents from the Michael O. Maceda Marine unit have arrested 3 illegal aliens and seized 3,944 lbs. of Cocaine after an early morning smuggling attempt off the coast of Puerto Rico today.
Breaking Details: https://t.co/5MhpsAkmfN pic.twitter.com/mm7MnlOoVk
— CBP AMO (@CBPAMO) August 6, 2025
History of drug seizures in the area
Last December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents intercepted a vessel near Mona Island in Puerto Rico. That law enforcement action resulted in the seizure of 451 pounds of cocaine worth over $4 million. Less than two months prior to that, the crew from the Ponce CBP Air and Marine Operations Marine Unit seized 11 bales of cocaine weighing 663.15 pounds worth around $6 million hidden on a boat traveling near Puerto Rico.
This week’s drug seizure is similar to another one that took place in April of 2024 when CBP AMO agents intercepted and seized 3,768 pounds of cocaine in 74 bales that were hidden inside a go fast vessel with a street value of $42.7 million.