Jacksonville-based Navy ship helps detain 4 suspected drug smugglers

A Naval Station Mayport-based ship working with international partners has helped bring in multiple suspected drug smugglers and dozens of kilos of cocaine.

The US Coast Guard says there have been two successful interdictions over just a few days.

In one interdiction, the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft saw a suspicious vessel, while on patrol. The 20-foot vessel was traveling at night without navigational lights, about 22 nautical miles off Puerto Rico. The Mayport-based USS Zephyr was diverted to the area, and a Coast Guard Station San Juan Special Purpose Craft law enforcement boat was launched.

The crews worked to stop the suspicious vessel, and four Dominican men were taken in to custody. The Coast Guard says the men had tossed packages of suspected contraband off board, after they had been spotted. The USS Zephyr was sent back to that area and located 27 bricks of cocaine, which weighs just over 32 kilograms, according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin eventually met the USS Zephyr to take the suspected smugglers and contraband for transport to federal law enforcement in Mayaguez.

During a separate interdiction, the Coast Guard says an aircraft alerted US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine agents to a suspicious vessel off Puerto Rico. Two CBP marine units from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico intercepted that vessel, and took three men in to custody- two of who are Dominican and one of who is Colombian. On that vessel, the Coast Guard says they located 33 kilos of cocaine, hidden in a gas container.

In all, the Coast Guard says the drugs are worth a combined $2 million. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations has taken over the investigation and prosecution for both cases.

The Coast Guard says these are successful efforts as part of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group, which unifies CBP, the Coast Guard, ICE, the US Attorney’s Office in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action. The group targets illegal migrants and drug smuggling efforts affecting Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Cox Media Group