CHRISTIANSTED — Three natives of Ecuador pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges in federal court, authorities said.
Luis Menocal-Mero, 41, Carlos Baque-Pincay, 23, and Carlos Anchundia-Mero, 24, admitted their guilt before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III in U.S. District Court in Golden Rock.
The three men entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith said.
According to court documents, on March 8, 2023, while on routine patrol, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Farragut intercepted a go-fast vessel after it was sighted approximately 110 nautical miles southeast of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
The go-fast vessel was in international waters, displaying no indicia of nationality, and there was no flag being flown.
Right of visit boarding was conducted as the vessel was suspected of illicit maritime activity. Menocal-Mero, Baque-Pincay and Anchundia-Mero were on board the vessel.
A claim of Ecuadorian nationality was made by a member of the crew, but Ecuador could neither confirm nor deny nationality of the vessel and therefore the vessel was determined to be one without nationality, thus subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
Thirty bales containing 800 kilograms of cocaine were found on board the vessel.
The sentencing in this matter is scheduled for July 16, 2025, where the defendants all face a maximum sentence of 20 years.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Coast Guard and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Huston prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
