AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico –On three separate events on Sunday, U.S. Border Patrol, Ramey Sector Agents detected and apprehended 16 undocumented aliens in northwest coast of Puerto Rico in the towns of Aguadilla and Isabela, and assisted the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) with the seizure of 4,269 pounds (1940.4 kilos) of cocaine and arrest of two suspected smugglers near the east coast town of Yabucoa, PR.
“Border Patrol agents and partners have continuously worked 24 hours a day throughout this pandemic. We have not let our guard down and will continue to safeguard our borders,” stated Xavier Morales, Chief Border Patrol Agent at Ramey Sector. “We ask that the public join our partnership, if you see something, say something. Reporting illicit activity is the key to maintain our communities safe.”
On March 7, Ramey Station Border Patrol agents responded to a Maritime Smuggling Event (MSE) reported by PRPD near El Cocal Beach in Yabucoa, where they discovered a dark blue, 38 feet fiberglass vessel with three outboard 250-horsepower engines. Inside the vessel 62 bales of contraband were found, along with a firearm.
An extensive search resulted in the arrest of two aliens, one claiming citizenship of Venezuela and the other from the Dominican Republic, along with discovering additional bales of contraband for a total of 80.
The contraband tested positive to the properties of cocaine and it is estimated to have a street value of $57 million.
The subjects, contraband, weapon and radio were turned-over-to the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force for further investigation.
In Isabela, Ramey Border Patrol Agents detected an incoming smuggling vessel and apprehended thirteen aliens (13 males, 1 female, all adults) after making landfall in the Pozo Brujo Beach area. All claimed to be Dominican Republic Nationals.
In Aguadilla, agents also arrested 2 illegal aliens subsequent to an MSE, one Haitian and one unaccompanied minor from the Dominican Republic, near Surfer’s beach.
All aliens were transported to the Ramey Border Patrol Station for immigration processing and removal proceedings.
The Ramey Sector is one of the twenty-one Sectors spread out across the United States. Encompassing the U.S. territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, it is the only Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States. The Sector's entire border area is made up of coastline and its area of responsibility is made up of some 6,000 square miles of land and water area, including the twelve-mile band of territorial water surrounding the Islands.
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