The U.S. Coast Guard stopped the possible transport of more than $50 million worth of cocaine as the agency intercepted a suspected smuggling boat off the coast of Puerto Rico.
The agency confirmed to Fox News Digital that investigators discovered more than 7,000 pounds of the drug on the boat that was traveling nearly 50 miles off the coast of the U.S. territory.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon intercepted the alleged drug smuggling boat on Saturday, Aug. 22, with the help of Customs and Border Protection air marine operations.
An estimated 7,250 pounds of cocaine was seized, worth about $54.5 million.
Five people on the alleged smuggling boat were detained and taken into custody in the investigation.
The Coast Guard destroyed the boat as it “posed a hazard to navigation,” the agency said.
In a statement, Lieutenant Commander Michael D. Torgesen said: “An outstanding team effort thanks to seamless coordination with Coast Guard and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] air assets, cutter Richard Dixon was in the right place at the right time to stop a major shipment.
“I’m constantly humbled by my crew’s dedication and am proud to serve alongside them as we strike a direct blow against transnational smuggling operations and protect the nation’s maritime borders in the Caribbean.”
Coast Guard Southeast District Commander Admiral Adam Chamie said, “This interdiction shows what ready crews and strong interagency partnerships can achieve in the maritime domain.”
The Coast Guard has yet to announce charges in the operation.
The cocaine bust announcement follows another development this week as the agency reached a milestone in which more than 75,000 pounds of illicit narcotics, valued at $473 million, were offloaded in Port Everglades in Miami, Florida, on Monday.
