SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations and U.S. Border Patrol agents, working with local law enforcement partners, interdicted two separate maritime smuggling ventures on opposite ends of Puerto Rico in a single day, resulting in the apprehension of 37 people and one U.S. citizen, according to CBP.
According to CBP, the two operations took place early Monday, July 20. On the eastern side of the island, Air and Marine Operations and Border Patrol agents apprehended 10 individuals from the Dominican Republic, India, and Ecuador, along with a U.S. citizen, following a smuggling attempt from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to Culebrita Island, according to the agency. CBP said the individuals and the vessel operator were arrested and transferred to Border Patrol for processing and removal proceedings. Those charged in the case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
On the western side of the island, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Ramey Sector — supported by CBP Marine Interdiction Agents, the Puerto Rico Police Department Maritime Unit, Cabo Rojo Municipal Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations — apprehended a group after a makeshift vessel made landfall, according to CBP. After a search, agents arrested a total of 27 individuals from countries including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, the agency said. All were transported to the Ramey Border Patrol Station for processing and removal proceedings.
“These operations demonstrate our commitment to protecting the Caribbean region from illegal maritime activity,” Christopher Hunter, Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch, said in a statement. “Our agents’ swift coordination and response ensured the safety and security of everyone involved.”
“Our agents, working closely with our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant in securing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ coastal borders,” Ramey Sector Chief Patrol Agent Reggie Johnson said in a statement. “This successful interdiction highlights the dedication and teamwork required to disrupt dangerous smuggling ventures and protect our communities.”
About CBP Air and Marine Operations
CBP’s Air and Marine Operations is the maritime and aviation enforcement arm of the agency, operating vessels, boats, and aircraft in coordination with Border Patrol along U.S. coastlines, inland waterways, and border regions. In Texas, AMO operates in the Gulf of Mexico from bases including Corpus Christi and along the Rio Grande in South Texas, coordinating with Border Patrol sectors and state and local partners on maritime and aerial enforcement missions. The Puerto Rico interdictions this week reflect the same coordinated model AMO uses in Texas waters.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity at ports of entry or in coastal areas can report it to CBP by calling 1-800-635-2509.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
