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United States Border Patrol agents and Puerto Rico Police Department FURA (Joint Forces of Rapid Action) units made a major bust of a drug smuggling effort when they noticed a vessel traveling southeast toward Barceloneta, Puerto Rico last week. When they vessel failed to stop, as requested by the FURA officers, they soon discovered why: cocaine, and lots of it.
On Jan. 9, at approximately 1:42 a.m., a FURA Arecibo Marine Unit spotted the vessel and attempted to stop it. When that failed, they trailed it to where it ended up making landfall near Puerto Las Vacas Beach and reported that three subjects had exited the vessel.
Ramey Sector Border Patrol agents then discovered on Maria’s Beach in Rincon an abandoned 23-foot fiberglass yola, blue in color, with two 60 hp Yamaha outboard engines. While searching the area, the Border Patrol agents, along with Homeland Security Investigations and Puerto Rico Police Department officers, discovered 19 bales of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $14.8 million.
A further search of the area resulted in the apprehension of 17 non-U.S. citizens: 11 adult men, three adult women from the Dominican Republic, and three adult men from Haiti.
The suspected cocaine was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for investigation, while the non-U.S. citizens were transported to the Ramey Border Patrol Station and processed for removal.
U.S. Border Patrol and FURA seize cocaine and apprehend migrants in Puerto Rico READ MORE: https://t.co/u5BdAfN7hb pic.twitter.com/ZYgz5sG6AT
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“The continued successful collaboration between the U.S. Border Patrol and FURA showcases our shared commitment to protecting the borders of Puerto Rico and safeguarding its communities,” said Reggie Johnson, Acting Chief Patrol Agent. “The results of these separate incidents, on the same day, is a testament to the dedication and effectiveness of our joint efforts.”
The Ramey Sector is one of the twenty-one Sectors dividing up the United States. The Ramey Sector is composed of the U.S. territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is the only U.S. Border Patrol Sector located outside of the continental United States.
The Ramey Sector’s entire border area is made up of coastline and its area of responsibility covers around 6,000 square miles of land and water area, including a twelve-mile band of territorial water surrounding the Virgin Islands.