MIAMI, United States (CMC) — The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has disrupted the smuggling of 2.8 tonnes of cocaine, denying transnational criminal organisations approximately US$73,892,000.

The CBP said the operation involved its Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and partners in the Eastern Caribbean.

“Partnerships are key to stopping drugs from reaching our borders. We will continue to leverage unique capabilities to stop illicit smuggling on the seas,” said Creighton Skeen, director of Air and Marine Operations, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch.

CBP said that, on April 8, a National Air Security Operations aircrew worked with multiple partners in the Eastern Caribbean to maintain continuous observation of a suspicious vessel with nine people on board.

The next day, CBP said the Air and Marine Operations aircrew coordinated with Joint Interagency Task Force-South and US Coast Guard partners for interdiction of the suspicious vessel.

CBP said the aircrew continued aerial monitoring as the suspicious vessel evaded law enforcement and threw bales overboard.

CBP said last year, AMO enforcement actions resulted in 1,004 arrests and 89,909 apprehensions of undocumented individuals, as well as the seizure or disruption of 256,883 pounds of cocaine, 2,049 pounds of fentanyl, 4,050 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,200 weapons, and US$15.3 million.