The U.S. Border Patrol in Puerto Rico (CBP) announced on Tuesday that it had seized over 420 kilograms of cocaine, valued at more than $6.7 million on the black market, from a vessel arriving from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 'Our agents remain vigilant and committed to protecting our borders, even during the Christmas season,' stated Kian Tomas, director of the San Juan Port, in a press release. According to authorities, the seizure took place on December 24th at the port facilities in San Juan. While CBP agents were inspecting the cargo on board a passenger and cargo vessel, they detected irregularities in the chassis of a platform. The officers conducted a more thorough inspection, including a search with drug-sniffing dogs, which resulted in a positive alert. A subsequent examination revealed a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. 'This seizure highlights the commitment and professionalism of our team to prevent dangerous drugs from reaching our communities,' Tomas concluded. The CBP agents extracted the drugs in coordination with the Puerto Rico Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Drug seizures in the waters off the west coast of Puerto Rico are frequent, as the Mona Passage, which separates this island from the Dominican Republic, is a commonly used route for drug trafficking.
