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Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) : AMO, partner agencies interdict 7 suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean over 10 day

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –   U.S. Customs and Border Protection,  Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and the Dutch Caribbean coast guard interdicted seven suspected drug smuggling vessels in the past two weeks near Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in the Eastern Caribbean.

A DHC-8 Marine Patrol Aircraft.
The collaboration between the federal agencies resulted in more than 3,700 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $64 million and 19 suspected drug smugglers being apprehended.

The assets involved in these disruptions include:

  • CBP Air and Marine Operations DHC-8 and UH-60 aircraft
  • Coast Guard Cutter Reliance
  • Coast Guard Cutter William Trump
  • Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier
  • Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle
  • Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley
  • Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
  • USS Comstock
  • A Dutch coast guard DH-8 aircraft

On April 1, U.S. Southern Command began enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere to disrupt the flow of drugs in support of Presidential National Security Objectives. Numerous U.S. agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security cooperated in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, play a role in counter-drug operations.

The fight against drug cartels in the Caribbean Sea requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring and interdictions, to criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys Offices in districts across the nation. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Caribbean Sea is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 7th District, headquartered in Miami, Florida. The interdictions, including the actual boardings, are led and conducted by members of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) is a multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force group operating in the District of Puerto Rico focusing on Caribbean and South American-based Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in the maritime and air smuggling shipments of narcotics from Puerto Rico to the Continental U.S. and in the laundering of drug proceeds using bulk cash smuggling and sophisticated laundering activities. CCSF signatory agencies include the DEA, HSI, FBI, CGIS, USMS, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last modified:
December 21, 2020

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DEA (SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico): Federal Authorities Dismantle Drug Trafficking Organization Responsible for Transporting Cocaine and Money between Puerto Rico-Florida-Connecticut

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DEAOctober 07, 2015
Contact: Public Information Officer
(787) 277-4700

District of Puerto Rico announce the results of the DEA lead arrest operation during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Picture are (L-R) ATF RAC Felix Rios, DEA ASAC James Doby and U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez
District of Puerto Rico announce the results of the DEA lead arrest operation during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Picture are (L-R) ATF RAC Felix Rios, DEA ASAC James Doby and U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez

OCT 07 (SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) –This morning, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF) dismantled a drug trafficking organization responsible for the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and drug money between Puerto Rico and the Continental United States, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of  Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HIS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

On September 30, 2015, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging 37 individuals with participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to tamper with a witness. The defendants are: Luis Rivera-Ramos, aka “Luigi;” Rubén Barceló-Severino, aka “Chucky;” Jesús M. Vázquez-Rivera; Glarivy Rivera-Huertas; Luis Pintor; Antonio Llano-Mulley, aka “Pupolo;” Valeria Ramos-Ruiz; Ashley Flores-Carter; Kenneth Rivera-Ramos, aka “Gazu;” Kelvin Collazo-Rodríguez, aka “Pirulo;” Eddie Fernández-Ruiz; Carmen Yaritza Povez-James; Xavier Camacho-Valdés; Carmen Odalis Flores-Dávila; Valeria Mojica-De Jesús; José Burgos-Estrada; Joselyn Alicea-Villegas; David Reyes-Santiago; Deyaneira Reyes-Santiago; Kevin Reyes-Santiago; Jonathan Reyes-Santiago; Pedro Ramos-Ruiz; Lynn Ramos; Alba Torres-Suárez; Aníbal Torres-Pérez; Ayleen Santana-Gómez; Blanca Calo-Vázquez; Dariana Santiago-Falcón; Esteban A. Rivera-Guzmán; Gilberto Villegas; Joson F. Abreu; Jessica Martínez-Alfaro; Juan Figueroa-Cabrera; Kacsy Maldonado-Giegel; Liliana Geigel-Rivera; Llinozca Delgado-Ríos; and Nayad Pujols-Noboa.

The investigation leading to today’s arrests uncovered that members of this organization utilized drug mules to smuggle kilograms of cocaine hidden in suitcases on airplanes flying out of the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (LMMIA). The kilograms of cocaine were vacuum sealed and pressed into the approximate width of a magazine, and were then wrapped in carbon paper. The suitcases were altered to contain a hidden compartment in the bottom, where the kilograms of cocaine were concealed. The suitcases typically contained two kilograms each, and the mules would travel with one or two suitcases at a time.
The organization instructed the mules on how to handle law enforcement in the event that they were arrested for smuggling. The organization’s leadership would provide the mules with a story to tell law enforcement to lead them in the wrong direction and away from the organization. The organization also utilized intimidation and threats of violence to prevent the mules from cooperating with law enforcement.

“These arrests are a clear indication of the success of the OCEDTF in the fight against drug trafficking. Today’s arrests dismantle an organization that coordinated not only the traffic of cocaine between Puerto Rico and the Continental United States, but also the movement of drug money, essential to the success of these illegal activities,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will continue maximizing all of our combined resources to investigate and prosecute those who disregard our laws and try to smuggle illegal contraband into our jurisdiction.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Howell.

If found guilty, the defendants face terms of imprisonment from 10 years to life. Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The case was investigated by agents from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) that investigates South American-based drug trafficking organizations responsible for the movement of multi-kilogram quantities of narcotics using the Caribbean as a transshipment point for further distribution to the United States. The initiative is composed of DEA, HSI, FBI, US Coast Guard, US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and PRPD’s Joint Forces for Rapid Action.

The Airport Investigations and Tactical Team (AirTAT) operates in the District of Puerto Rico as an OCDEFT strategic initiative that is part of the National Airport Initiative. It is a multi-agency, co-located task force that includes DEA, HSI, FBI, USPIS, CBP – Office of Field Operations, and ATF. AirTAT also works closely with the Police of Puerto Rico. AirTAT’s mission is to identify, locate, disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute TCOs and their operatives using the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (LMMIA), the Fernando Luis Rivas Dominicci Airport (FLRDA), and airport peripherals as platforms to smuggle narcotics, weapons, human cargo, counterfeit documents, illicit proceeds, and other contraband through these critical airport infrastructures.

http://www.dea.gov/divisions/car/2015/car100715.shtml

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