Office of Public Affairs

August 27, 2020

Contact: CBP Public Affairs,

News Release Jeffrey Quinones

Jeffrey.h.quinones@cbp.dhs.gov
787 607-2689
 Office of Public Affairs

US Border Patrol, FURA Seize 1,303 Pounds of Cocaine and

Arrest 4 Illegal Aliens Attempting to enter via Rincon, Puerto
Rico
AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico –US Border Patrol and the Puerto Rico Police Department Joint
Forces for Rapid Action (FURA, for its Spanish acronym) detected and intercepted Thursday a
“yola” type vessel with four illegal aliens from the Dominican Republic who were attempting to
smuggle 1,303 pounds (591 Kilos) of cocaine near Rincon. The estimated value of the seized
cocaine is $14.8 million.

“We will continue to disrupt and apprehend smugglers that attempt to smuggle people and narcotics
across our borders,” indicated Xavier Morales, Chief Patrol Agent for the Ramey Sector. “Having a
dedicated workforce partner up with other professionals dedicated to the border security mission is the
key to success. Great job by all.”

Ramey Station Border Patrol agents detected a vessel traveling without navigational lights
eastbound approximately six nautical miles west of Rincon. Agents contacted a FURA marine
unit, an Operation Stonegarden partner, that intercepted the 20 feet long fiberglass homemade
vessel approximately six miles west of Rincon, PR and encountered four subjects onboard (all
adult males) which claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.

FURA discovered 19 bundles, which appeared to be narcotics. Border Patrol Agents responded
to the Añasco pier and established that all subjects were illegal aliens from the Dominican
Republic who were attempting to enter into the United States.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI ) Special Agents assumed the contraband and the aliens
for investigation and prosecution.

The Operation Stonegarden Grant Program (OPSG) is designed to enhance cooperation and
coordination from the U.S. Border Patrol with local, tribal, territorial, state and federal law
enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the border.   

The Ramey Sector is one of the twenty-one Sectors spread out across the United States.
Encompassing the U.S. territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, it is the only
Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States. The Sector's entire border area
is made up of coastline and its area of responsibility is made up of some 6,000 square miles of
land and water area, including the twelve-mile band of territorial water surrounding the Islands.

For anonymous tips contact us at 1(800)981-1313.

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~CBP~

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of
Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's
borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and
terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.