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Frequent travel in connection with this work allegedly served as a cover for narcotics-related activity. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Traffickers used to use small aircraft to drop shipments into the island in the 1980s and 1990s but now rely on go-fast boats, fishing vessels, luxury yachts, cruise ships, and containerized cargo. Arrests made in drug ring bust spanning Connecticut, Puerto Rico and The investigation into the ring spanned four months and started in May 2020, according to Baart. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Since June, 15 people with connections to the ring have been arrested and federally charged, Southwick said. On June 21, 2021, he allegedly sent a USPS box listing his own name as both the recipient and sender. She thanked Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Officers found 136 bricks of cocaine . AMO agents assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in interdicting a semi-submersible vessel sailing toward Puerto Rico on April 8, according to information obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. Over the years we have seen many creative ways that drug traffickers conceal illegal narcotics in an effort to elude detection from law enforcement. The specific address was not included in the complaint. Syracuse, N.Y. Four Syracuse men are facing federal drug charges after a four-month investigation found them to be distributing cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico and heroin, according to a complaint filed in federal court. Often, the named recipients were either fictitious or were actual individuals not associated with the address. Crime in Puerto Rico: Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, and the Poor The following day, on April 29, 2021, members of NYDETF and USPIS tracked a package destined for 1871 Barnes Avenue in the Bronx. Puerto Rico police arrest 800 suspects, solve 43 killings The seizure was the result of multi-agency efforts in support of U.S. Southern Command's . Bridget G. Brennan, New York Citys Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division, Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Cocaine kilograms concealed in lunchbox in mail. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( The long-term investigation was conducted by DEAs New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-41, and USPIS. Hiding narcotics in kid branded items is pathetic. The local ring, led by Jobany Tirado and Omar Fuentes, was found to distribute drugs to another group that operated primarily in the West Side of Syracuse, according to federal complaints filed in the Northern District of New York. Members of NYDETF observed the package being delivered to the Colden Avenue address on January 22, 2021. Jose Velez, 40, is facing . Tirado was identified as a drug supplier for Luiz Mendez and Samuel Matos, according to the complaint. Editors note: This article initially misstated the weight of the drug shipment as 1.25 tons. At least two packages bore the return address of a luxury clothing boutique in Upper Manhattan. Officials placed the value of the 2.76 tons of cocaine at approximately $75 million. In an indictment filed on Monday, federal prosecutors accused three men - Jorge Aponte-Guzman, Nelson Agramonte-Minaya and Carlos Maisonet-Lopez - of drug trafficking conspiracy in relation to the seized drugs. The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Cocaine availability nationwide in 2019 dropped 14% from the prior year and hit its lowest level in six years, and supply remained largely steady throughout 2020, according to a March 2021 DEA report. The nearly 66,000 pounds of drugs discovered in and around Puerto Rico that year was about 40% higher than the previous years 47,500 pounds. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. Thanks for contacting us. Other arrests involving the ring include: Got a tip, comment or story idea? Twenty of the accused have been processes and booked. By United States Coast Guard. Claudio Acevedo-Maquita, 55, of the Bronx, More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Jeffrey Quinones, public affairs officer for CBPs Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands outposts, told the Washington Examiner that the eastern Caribbean has served as a trafficking pit stop for decades, but the recent uptick indicates cartels are using the 100-mile-wide island to circumnavigate the Mexican border. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Puerto Rico | Fox News The seizure led to the arrest and indictment of three people for a variety of drug trafficking and maritime law violations. Customs and Border Protection. Border / Cartel ChroniclesCrimeAir and Marine OperationsAMOCocaineDrug TraffickingPuerto RicoSemi-Submersible VesselU.S. Cape May bust breaks up cocaine network with links to Puerto Rico drug Arrests made in drug ring bust spanning Connecticut, Puerto Rico and Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, and Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson of the Drug Enforcement Administration announce the conclusion of "Operation Yo-Yo" a large scale narcotics investigation initiated by the Cape May County . "This seizure signifies a shift in the illegal drug landscape in New York," Donovan said in a statement. Border Patrol officials seized a massive amount of cocaine during a drug bust in Puerto Rico this week.. Border Patrol agents in the Ramey sector and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces for Rapid Action seized 343 lbs. Enhanced enforcement efforts along the Central America/Mexico corridor and on the U.S. Southwest border as well as the ongoing violence between rival TCOs [transnational criminal organizations] in Mexico may be contributing to the shift to more efficient, presumably less troublesome Caribbean routes," according to the 2015 White House Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy report. The investigation revealed the two work as managers representing recording artists in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Cellphone communications between Duarte and Centeno-Rosado indicate Duarte ordered the livery car. The lunchboxes bore images of popular cartoon characters. Boston Based International Cocaine Ring Busted by Postal Inspectors These USPS packages contained a total of eight kilograms of cocaine concealed inside childrens lunchboxes and a zip binder. NEW YORK CITY An indictment filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor charges five individuals in a sophisticated conspiracy to smuggle millions of dollars in cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York and Massachusetts via the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the NYPD, the New York State Police, and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. While charges in the indictment relate to USPS packages containing approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, the investigation resulted in the seizure of roughly twice that amount, for a total of 30 kilograms of cocaine. Boom and Bust in Puerto Rico is the story of how the demise of an obscure tax policy that encouraged investment and economic growth led to escalating budget deficits and the government's shocking default of its $70 billion debt. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Puerto Rico, and United States - specifically Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The seized cocaine has an estimated wholesale value of approximately $51 million dollars. Bloomberg Business of Sports lets you follow the money in the world of sports, reporting on trades, salaries, endorsements, contracts and collective bargaining. Other charges contained in the indictment include, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean . 9 Arrested, $450k in Cocaine Seized After Large NJ, Pa. Drug Bust YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The men were arrested on Sept. 16, when police searched three separate houses involved in the ring, Baart wrote. Two weeks later, on April 28, 2021, agents and officers observed Duarte receive a USPS package and drive in a white pickup truck. (U.S. Coast Guard photo), Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Training and Technical Assistance Center (PDMP TTAC) reports 2020 data and 2021 features of the Puerto Rico Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). 25 pounds of cocaine, $350K confiscated in Bronx drug bust - New York Post On January 21, 2021, surveillance footage in Puerto Rico showed Duarte shipping a USPS package destined for 2925 Colden Avenue in the Williamsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, which is the residence of Sweeney. The show takes listeners inside the business end of the sports world, and explains what it means to fans and their pocketbooks. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. This story has been shared 121,057 times. 20 gang members charged for drug trafficking and firearms violations in Coddington also possessed a small quantity of fentanyl on his person. PHOTOS: More than 30 people arrested in massive Hampton Roads drug bust The last tourist death in Puerto Rico occurred in February 2020 when a 39-year-old man from Denver was thrown from an SUV and run over in San Juan, police have said. If this tactic was designed to throw off law enforcement, it did not work. Puerto Rico will close its only zoo after longstanding complaints NBC News 21:34 28-Feb-23. The Coast Guard arrested three people from the vessel and confiscated the semi-submersible boat. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On March 10, 2021, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 30 violent gang members with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and aiding and abetting in the possession/distribution of controlled substances, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United Sweeney allegedly exited the residence with a gray shopping bag, discarded what appeared to be a white USPS box, and gave the bag to Coddington. . CBP's Air and Marine Operations unit was on routine patrol around 8 a.m. Thursday when the shots were fired about 12 miles (19 kilometers) off the coast from Cabo Rojo, a major drug smuggling. 3 Indicted for Part in Largest Seizure of NY-Destined Cocaine in Decades: Feds "This seizure signifies a shift in the illegal drug landscape in New York with cocaine seizures rising more than 150% . Drug Bust. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. Puerto Rico police find $34M worth of cocaine in biggest drug bust in Officials captured a 52-foot (15.8 meter) long, 8-foot-wide semi-submersible carrying 2,500 kilograms (5,512 pounds) of cocaine worth about $75 million, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Stephen Muldrow said at a press conference. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Coast Guard offloads $51 million in cocaine in San Juan, Puerto Rico, following at-sea drug bust near the British Virgin Islands. In the summer of 1993, the Puerto Rican government, alarmed about the record-breaking murder rate on the island, launched a massive military occupation of public housing projects. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. Attorney General James and DEA Announce Takedown of 12-Person Cocaine Duartes fingerprints were allegedly found on two packages and Garcias on four, and Centeno-Rosados on one of the packages associated with Garcia. Cops snagged 25 pounds of cocaine and $350,000 in a Bronx drug bust they say disrupted a large-scale narcotics distribution network with possible ties to Puerto Rico. At approximately 4:40 p.m., agents and officers observed Centeno-Rosado exit the location carrying a heavy duffel bag and get into a livery car. If convicted, each defendant faces sentences from 10 years to life in prison for the drug trafficking charges and up to 15 years for the DTVIA-related charges. . Follow him on Twitter@BobPriceBBTXandFacebook. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 HoustonsWhats Your Point? Between May of 2020 and April of 2021, fingerprint analysis allegedly linked the defendants to six packages. Share Your Design Ideas, New JerseysMurphy Defends $10 Billion Rainy Day Fund as States Economy Slows, This Week in Crypto: Ukraine War, Marathon Digital, FTX, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Stephen Muldrow. Agents, officers and inspectors employed a wide range of investigative tools, including the collection of latent fingerprints from USPS packages, physical and electronic surveillance, court authorized searches and various other investigative tools. Tirado, Fuentes, Angel Negron-Collazo and Rahfet Shehadeh were all arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and heroin, the complaint said. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. BOSTON (AP) Drug charges have been filed against 21 people accused of running a cocaine and fentanyl ring that spanned Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and Puerto Rico,. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, This investigation speaks to the strong partnerships we have with our state, local and federal agencies, and to our commitment to keep dangerous drugs off our streets. Packages were shipped to residential addresses in New York State, including in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Greene County, as well as to Massachusetts. The U.S. Department of Justice in Puerto Rico said Monday that authorities had made a record-breaking cocaine bust after officials seized a submarine in Caribbean waters. Puerto Rico's only zoo is closing after years of suspected negligence, lack of resources Fox News 11:27 28-Feb-23. An official website of the United States government. Rual Sweeney was arrested last night in the Bronx. Germany is making slow progress in enforcing sanctions against Russian oligarchs and institutions, according to government numbers seen by Reuters on Saturday. Coast Guard seizes $15 million worth of cocaine in Puerto Rico - WTSP A locked padlock The indictment includes charges againstdefendants Arturo Gonzlez-Quiones, Freiman Yepes-Ospina, and Jos lvaro Crdoba-Rentera forconspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to operate and embark in a semi-submersible vessel without nationality, and to navigate thereon into and through waters beyond the outer limit of any countrys territorial sea, with the intent to evade detection, in violation of the Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act (DTVIA), officials reported. Members of NYDETF and USPIS observed Coddington enter a vehicle and move around in the back seat. Gregory H. Magee, Sector San Juan commander. He had approximately $12,000 on his person. The seizure led to the arrest and indictment of three people for a variety of drug trafficking and maritime law violations. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Lock Maldonado also discusses the extent of the devastation from Hurricane Maria in 2017, the massive street protests . NYDETF Group T-41 is comprised of agents and officers with the DEA, the NYPD and the New York State Police. Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan commended the work of her offices Special Investigations Bureau, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the DEA, the U.S. CARIBBEAN / 26 APR 2021 BY VICTORIA DITTMAR AND DOUWE DEN HELD EN Puerto Rico is seeing a surge in cocaine seizures, indicating that drug flows are being reactivated after months of dormancy amid pandemic lockdowns and that the island is on track to tally a record drug haul in 2021. Two men were arrested This disruption and seizure were the result of multi-agency efforts involving the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force. To counteract, federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), coordinated efforts with the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and other local agencies. Cocaine continues to be an illegal drug anchored in New York, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. Bob Priceserves as associate editor and senior news contributor for theBreitbart Texas-Border team. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle will be moored at High Street Landing Sept. 17 Sept. 20 and will be open for free public tours. The interdiction was the result of multi-agency efforts in support of U.S. Southern Commands enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) programs, and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF), officials said in a written statement. The bust comes as authorities grapple with a 150% increase in cocaine seizures over the past year in the area, said Ray Donovan, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's special agent in charge for the New York division. Arraignments for three of the five defendants are scheduled for this afternoon before Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Abraham Clott. Local police and Department of Homeland Security agents responded Monday to find 739 pounds of cocaine bricks concealed inside duffel bags on board the decrepit vessel. Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley's crew . Federal border agents flying over Puerto Rico led law enforcement to $8.4 million worth of cocaine in a boat that had capsized and been abandoned in the water off the eastern coast of the island after a failed drug trafficking attempt. In all, Baart wrote that the ring involved at least five houses. Federal authorities confiscated the narcotics. Previously worked as a correspondent in Venezuela and Argentina. 11 charged, guns seized after 10-month investigation into N.J. drug Puerto Rico has become a hotbed for drug traffickers attempting to smuggle cocaine and heroin from Colombia in South America to the East Coast of the U.S. Border officials in Puerto Rico. For example, Puerto Rico's Medicaid program began covering its first drug to cure hepatitis C in March 2020. They are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on November 17, 2021. Man missing since 2021 was murdered, co-worker arrested: DA . Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Tariq Loat and a friend, James Jackson, were attacked in La Perla on Saturday following the alleged drug deal when they tried to take photographs, despite being told not to, according to Police Commissioner Antonio Lpez Figueroa. NewsNow: Puerto Rico news | Breaking News & Search 24/7 Learn more via @CBPCaribbean: https://t.co/s86Jqt3FWT pic.twitter.com/5rDg7Q583V. Both are residents of New York. Five Charged in Sophisticated Scheme to Mail Cocaine from Puerto Rico When Fuentes was arrested, he tried to throw away a .40-caliber Glock that police later found, according to Baart. This summer, Coast Guard Academy Cadets completed a transatlantic voyage and experienced port calls in Azores, Iceland, and Bermuda. 25 Members Of A Violent Gang Charged With Drug Trafficking In Mayagez Duarte faces the top narcotics charge of Operating as a Major Trafficker. Puerto Rican drug lord and his brother convicted of drug trafficking Lpez said some of the suspects sold drugs wrapped in individual packages marked with a variety of images, including deceased Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the Road Runner cartoon figure. Defense attorneys for Aponte-Guzman and Maisonet-Lopez did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There is no evidence of oil impacting the waterway. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Damian Williams, the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York sworn in last month, referred to the amount of cocaine seized as a "massive quantity of dangerous drugs.". At three other houses located at 722 E. Laurel St., 300 Woodruff Ave. and 534 Stafford Ave. detectives found more than 2.5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 40 grams of heroin that was separated into more than 1,000 bags, according to Baart. A court authorized search of his home at 1500 Noble Avenue, Apt. 158 people are indicted on drug- and gun-related charges. If convicted, defendants would face up to life in prison, $4 million in fines. The article has been updated to reflect the correct tonnage.