ICE Seizes 758 Lbs Cocaine

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - More than 700 pounds of cocaine with a street value of approximately $8 million were seized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents working jointly with other federal officers assigned to the Caribbean Corridor Initiative (CCI). As a result of the joint investigative efforts by CCI participants, the British Her Majesty (HMS) Ship Largs Bay on patrol near the vicinity of Trinidad and Tobago, interdicted the Venezuelan-flagged fishing vessel Astro Melia with five crewmembers onboard and recovered 15 bales containing more than 700 pounds of cocaine. The Astro Melia and its crew were turned over to Venezuela law enforcement officials. The 15 bales recovered from international waters were brought to the U.S. Coast Guard base in San Juan where ICE agents took custody of the contraband.