Tag: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO)

CBP Makes Massive Cocaine Bust In Puerto Rico

The CBP agents seized 794 pounds of cocaine is estimated to be worth $7.5 million in Puerto Rico SAN JUAN — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations made a massive cocaine bust earlier this week when agents hauled in nearly 800 pounds in an attempted smuggling operation off the coast of Puerto Rico. […]

2 Vieques Men Who Brought $1 Million In Cash To St. Thomas By Boat Plead Guilty

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two residents of Vieques who tried to smuggle more than one million dollars in cash by sea to St. Thomas have admitted their guilt in federal court. Julius Alvarez-Gonzalez and Jimmy Garcia-Quinonez, of Vieques, Puerto Rico each entered guilty pleas to the charge of concealing over one million dollars in cash on […]

2 Puerto Rican Men With 174 Pounds Of Cocaine On Boat Dump Drugs In Sea Chase

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two Puerto Rican men aboard a no-lights boat who tried to ditch 174 pounds of cocaine during a sea chase between Culebra and St. Thomas were arrested Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. According to court documents, on March 29, 2022, Wesly Albert Amaro, and Brian SantiagoGonzalez, were stopped in the […]

CBP, DEA Agents Seize St. Thomas Aircraft Tied To Smuggling Activities

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents seized a St. Thomas aircraft on Tuesday suspected of having been used for smuggling events. During an arrest conducted in the fall of 2021, AMO agents working with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Department […]

3 BVIslanders And 1 Dominican Caught With 1,470 Pounds Of Cocaine At Sea

CHRISTIANSTED — A federal joint task force including U.S. Customs agents seized more than $20 million worth of cocaine after it intercepted a smuggling speedboat near St. Croix this weekend. “Transnational criminal organizations take aim at diverse routes to move their illicit contraband,” indicated Augusto Reyes, Director of the Caribbean CBP Air and Marine Branch. […]

Feds Had To Shoot Out BVI Boat Captain’s Engine To Get Him To Stop

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A BVI national was arrested on December 28, 2021, in St. Thomas on a criminal charge related to his failure to stop his vessel when ordered to do so by United States Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine (“CBP-AMO”) agents. According to court documents, William Malone of Road Town, Tortola was […]

Feds Catch Up To Culebra Crew On Jet Skis With 57 Pounds Of Cocaine

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Federal authorities tracked down cocaine smugglers from Culebra with 57 pounds of cocaine being moved from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas on jet skis. Eight men were arrested Saturday in St. Thomas for allegedly smuggling 26 kilograms of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. On December 11, 2021 Wilfredo Vazquez Lopez, […]

BVI Boat Captain Who Threw Cell Phone Off Boat To Avoid Illegal Alien Smuggling Charge Gets No Jail Time

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A BVI boat captain who was caught smuggling illegal aliens into the U.S. Virgin Islands has been given no jail time by a federal judge after pleading guilty to a lesser included charge. Juwon Cordelle Potter, 25, of Road Town, Tortola, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $2,000 […]

2 St. Thomas Men Charged With Smuggling 463 Pounds Of Cocaine By Sea At Night

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two St. Thomas men face criminal charges after allegedly trying to bring at least 463 pounds of cocaine into the territory by sea, authorities said. Russell Robinson and Trevor Stephen appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on a criminal complaint Tuesday, charging the men with conspiring to distribute five kilograms or […]

Dominican Republic Man Faces Life In Prison After Shootout In Haulover Bay

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Dominican Republic national who fired on federal agents with an assault rifle on a beach used for offloading large shipments of narcotics faces a possible life sentence after a guilty plea in federal court, authorities said. Rammer Guerrero Morales, of Santo Domingo, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller in U.S. […]