"HSI is committed to working with our federal, state and local counterparts in an effort to stop the movement of contraband in the Caribbean," said Iván J. Arvelo, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "Those involved in drug trafficking should know that the Caribbean is no longer an option to transship narcotics into the United States."
On Feb 7, while investigating a suspicious yola-type vessel in Vieques, HSI and CBP special agents and officers, respectively, learned that a Coast Guard air unit, while on a routine patrol, detected another incoming vessel at approximately 10 nautical miles south of Vieques.
CBP marine interdiction officers responded to the area and initiated a hot pursuit and observed it occupants fleeing the scene upon landing south of Vieques.
HSI special agents contacted the Vieques Municipal Police (VMP) with the exact location of the landing. Upon arriving, the VPM found an abandoned spider vessel with 33 bales containing 888 bricks of cocaine with an approximate weight of 1081 kilograms (2,378 lbs.). The contraband was later released to HSI.
The HSI investigation is ongoing.