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	Coast Guard offloads $10.2 million in seized cocaine
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        <h1 class="title">Coast Guard offloads $10.2 million in seized cocaine</h1>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2023/May/04/2003215857/1920/1080/0/230503-G-KA744-1003.JPG"
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                 alt="Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crewmember helps offload 901 pounds of cocaine in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 3, 2023.  The cutter crew also transferred three suspected smugglers apprehended in this case were to federal agents, following the interdiction of a drug smuggling go-fast vessel north of Puerto Rico, April 29, 2023.  (U.S. Coast Guard photo)"
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            <div class="image-title">Coast Guard offloads $10.2 million in seized cocaine, following interdiction of smuggling vessel north of Puerto Rico</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crewmember helps offload 901 pounds of cocaine in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 3, 2023.  The cutter crew also transferred three suspected smugglers apprehended in this case were to federal agents, following the interdiction of a drug smuggling go-fast vessel north of Puerto Rico, April 29, 2023.  (U.S. Coast Guard photo)</div>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2023/May/04/2003215858/1920/1080/0/230503-G-KA744-1002.JPG"
                 class="aimage img-responsive"
                 alt="Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crewmembers offload 901 pounds of cocaine in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 3, 2023.  The cutter crew also transferred three suspected smugglers apprehended in this case were to federal agents, following the interdiction of a drug smuggling go-fast vessel north of Puerto Rico, April 29, 2023.  (U.S. Coast Guard photos)"
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            <div class="image-title">Coast Guard offloads $10.2 million in seized cocaine, transfers 3 smugglers to federal agents in San Juan, following interdiction of smuggling vessel north of Puerto Rico</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crewmembers offload 901 pounds of cocaine in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 3, 2023.  The cutter crew also transferred three suspected smugglers apprehended in this case were to federal agents, following the interdiction of a drug smuggling go-fast vessel north of Puerto Rico, April 29, 2023.  (U.S. Coast Guard photos)</div>
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    <div><b>By U.S. Coast Guard</b> <span class="date">/ Published May 4, 2023</span></div>
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    <p>SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crew and Caribbean Corridor Strike Force agents offloaded 901 pounds (411kgs) of cocaine Wednesday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, following the interdiction of a smuggling vessel north of Puerto Rico.</p>

<p>The three men apprehended in this case are Dominican Republic nationals who are facing federal prosecution in District Court of Puerto Rico for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Aboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States.</p>

<p>The Transnational Organized Crime Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico is leading the prosecution for this case, while Special Agents supporting the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force are leading the investigation.</p>

<p>During a patrol Saturday night, the aircrew of a Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspect go-fast vessel north of Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watch standers at Sector San Juan diverted the cutter Joseph Napier that arrived on scene in pursuit and stopped the 30-foot blue and white go-fast vessel, apprehended three men and recovered 12 bales of suspected contraband that tested positive for cocaine.</p>

<p>“I’m extremely proud of our crew, especially the pursuit team, for their tactical proficiency and resiliency in stopping this drug-smuggling vessel from entering Puerto Rico,” said Lt. DeVonte Weems, Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier commanding officer. “It was a great team effort with seamless coordination between Coast Guard surface, aerial, and shoreside units that resulted in a successful interdiction.”</p>

<p>The interdiction is the result of multi-agency efforts involving the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.</p>

<p>Cutter Joseph Napier is a 154-foot fast response cutter that is homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.</p>
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