Drug Smugglers Dump Cocaine and Escape U.S. Coast Guard Near Puerto Rico

Authorities reported that suspected drug traffickers discarded a large quantity of narcotics into the sea while attempting to evade interception by the United States Coast Guard in waters north of Puerto Rico.

According to official statements, a Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft detected a high-speed vessel operating in international waters. The vessel was observed carrying multiple packages consistent with narcotics trafficking. A nearby cutter, identified as USCGC Joseph Napier, was directed to intercept.

As Coast Guard personnel approached, the individuals aboard the suspect vessel reportedly began throwing bales overboard before fleeing the scene. The suspects were not apprehended during the operation.

Coast Guard crews later recovered dozens of floating packages from the water. Preliminary testing confirmed the contents to be cocaine. The seized contraband weighed more than 2,000 pounds, with an estimated street value exceeding $13 million.

The recovered narcotics were transferred to Homeland Security Investigations in San Juan for further processing and investigation. In a related development, law enforcement authorities located the abandoned vessel ashore near Arecibo.

Officials emphasized that maritime patrols in the Caribbean remain a critical component of ongoing counter-narcotics operations. Investigations into the incident are continuing.