CBP AMO intercepts semi-submersible with 4 tons of cocaine

The agents detected the vessel from the air and proceeded to arrest five people and seize the drugs.

Semisumergible autopropulsado interceptado por la AMO. — (CBP)

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25 de julio, 2023

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An operation by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) division in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in the interception of a self-propelled semi-submersible loaded with nearly 4 tons of cocaine. Five people were detained.

According to CBP estimates, the drug seized would have reached a market value of about $108 million. The agency explained in a press release that one of the AMO aircraft was conducting a patrol in the waters of southwestern Mexico in collaboration with the Information Analysis Center, the Interagency Joint Task Force South and other law enforcement agencies when they detected the semi-submersible. The crew raised the alarm and proceeded to monitor their movements. Subsequently, the agents coordinated the interception of the vessel, which resulted in the seizure of 8,232 pounds of cocaine and the arrest of five suspects.

More than 100 tons of drugs seized in 2023

Marshall Dillon, director of air and marine operations at the National Aviation Safety Operations Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, highlighted teamwork as the key to achieving the capture of a device that is virtually undetectable in the open ocean:

This is another great example of the collaborative work that goes on every day between AMO and our partners to keep illicit drugs from entering our country. The P-3 Aircrew detected, tracked, and led the interdiction of this SPSS by one of our partners. This seizure kept over $108 million in illicit proceeds from going to transnational criminal organizations.

So far this fiscal year, the AMO has seized more than 100 tons of drugs, with cocaine, at more than 151,000 pounds, being the most common. Last fiscal year, the work of this CBP division resulted in 967 arrests and 134,981 apprehensions of undocumented persons. In the fight against drug trafficking, agents seized 250,616 pounds of cocaine, 1,475 pounds of fentanyl, 25,625 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,342 weapons and $21.7 million in cash.