SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CMC) — The United States Coast Guard says the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Charles David, Jr on Friday offloaded and transferred custody of 245 kilograms of cocaine seized in the Caribbean Sea and nine suspected smugglers to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) authorities at Coast Guard Base San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The US Coast Guard said the seized contraband is estimated to have a wholesale value of US$7.4 million.

The interdiction and seizure are the result of multi-agency efforts involving the Coast Guard’s western hemisphere strategy, the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force Initiative and Operation Unified Resolve.

The DEA that is leading the investigation said that in the early morning hours of June 7, 2024, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernández located a suspect vessel, approximately 75 nautical miles south of St Croix, US Virgin Islands.

As cutter Heriberto Hernández approached, the US Coast Guard said the crew observed the occupants of the suspect vessel “jettison multiple packages overboard”.

“The crew of cutter Heriberto Hernández successfully stopped the suspect vessel that had nine men on board, who claimed to be Venezuelan nationals,” the US Coast Guard said.

“The cutter crew also recovered multiple packages of the jettisoned cargo and seized a total of 10 bales and two additional bags, with individual packages which tested positive for cocaine,” it added. “The crew of cutter Heriberto Hernández embarked the nine detainees and seized contraband that was later transferred to cutter Charles David Jr for final transport to San Juan, Puerto Rico.”

Lieutenant Commander Edward Kunigonis, Sector San Juan chief of enforcement, said: “We appreciate the efforts of Cutter Heriberto Hernández’s crew as well as the work and collaboration of all other Coast Guard personnel, units and partner agencies involved in this case.”

“The daily work and collaboration with our federal, local and regional partners is critical to achieving successful outcomes like in this case to help safeguard the Caribbean region from this threat,” he added.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Denise Foster said that Friday’s “successful interdiction and seizure underscore the relentless commitment and collaboration of our federal, local and regional partners in combating drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

“The efforts of the Coast Guard and all agencies involved in this operation are vital to our mission of safeguarding our communities from the scourge of narcotics,” she said. “The DEA will continue to lead the investigation to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice.”

The US Coast Guard said its efforts under Operation Unified Resolve contribute to the interagency results being achieved daily under Operation Caribbean Guard, which coordinates efforts between the Coast Guard, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Commonwealth and Territorial law enforcement partners, “who are working diligently to deter, detect and disrupt illicit maritime trafficking to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands”.