US Customs & partners seize cocaine near BVI

In a recent operation, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized a massive amount of cocaine weighing 4,294 pounds (1,948 kilogrammes) off the coast of the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

This seizure has denied transnational criminal organizations revenue worth about US$48.7 million.

According to CBP, the successful operation was the result of the agency working in collaboration with international partners.

The agency detected suspicious vessel activity near the BVI earlier this month and closely monitored a vessel of interest.

Air and Marine teams facilitated communication with responding crews, including a Caribbean Air and Marine Branch UH-60 aircrew, a St Thomas Marine Unit 41’ SAFE Boat crew, and an international maritime law enforcement team.

The vessel attempted to evade law enforcement, making erratic manoeuvres and eventually ran into a dock.

Three people absconded, but law enforcement teams seized 62 bales of cocaine from the grounded vessel.

Director of Air and Marine Operations, Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Branch, Creighton A. Skeen, hailed the successful operation, saying it demonstrated the level of cooperation and commitment with regional foreign partners in combating transnational criminal organizations operating in the Caribbean.

He added that their crews remain ready to respond to all smuggling throughout the Caribbean region.

CBP reported that last year, it had seized or disrupted the distribution of a staggering amount of illegal substances, including 256,883 pounds of cocaine, 2,049 pounds of fentanyl, and 4,050 pounds of methamphetamine. The agency also seized 2,200 weapons and US$15.3 million.