Two Dominicans and one Chinese man detained with $5.5M in cocaine off Puerto Rico
U.S. Coast Guard seized 489 pounds of cocaine from a fast boat in the Atlantic Ocean north of the island and transferred the suspects to federal authorities in San Juan.
PhotoThe short version
- Diario Libre and Primera Hora reported that two Dominican citizens and one Chinese citizen are detained after the seizure
- U.S. Coast Guard seized 489 pounds (222 kilos) of cocaine valued at 5.5 million dollars from a fast boat
- The suspects were transferred to the Homeland Security Task Force in San Juan according to both outlets
- Earlier this month four other people were detained with 69 blocks of cocaine near the northeast coast the reports state
Coast Guard interdiction
Two Dominican citizens and one Chinese citizen are detained in Puerto Rico after authorities seized 489 pounds (222 kilos) of cocaine valued at 5.5 million dollars from a vessel, Diario Libre reported. The U.S. Coast Guard transferred custody of the three suspects to the Homeland Security Task Force in San Juan, according to the outlet.
The same information was published by Primera Hora, which cited the Coast Guard announcement made on Tuesday. The outlets state that the interdiction occurred when the Coast Guard intercepted a fast boat in the Atlantic Ocean off the north coast of Puerto Rico.
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Recent seizures
Both outlets reported that earlier this month four other people were detained after 69 blocks of cocaine were seized from a vessel sailing near the northeast coast of the island. Diario Libre and Primera Hora published nearly identical accounts of the events.
Where the sources differ
Diario Libre and Primera Hora agree on all core facts including the nationalities of the three detainees, the quantity of cocaine seized (489 pounds / 222 kilos), its value (5.5 million dollars), the transfer to the Homeland Security Task Force in San Juan, the location of the interdiction north of Puerto Rico, and the earlier seizure of 69 blocks from four other individuals. The two reports are almost identical in wording and contain no conflicting details.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when the interdiction of the fast boat actually took place, only that the Coast Guard announced it on Tuesday. They provide no information on how the vessel was detected, whether the suspects face formal charges, the exact identities or ages of the three men, or what will happen to the seized cocaine and boat.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Detenidos dos dominicanos y un chino por tráfico de cocaína en Puerto Rico
- Reporting Detenidos dos dominicanos y un chino por tráfico de cocaína en Puerto Rico
- Reporting Dos dominicanos y un chino caen con $5.5 millones en cocaína en Puerto Rico
How we checked this
Both Diario Libre and Primera Hora reported the same Coast Guard announcement about the three detainees and the cocaine seizure. The account of the earlier seizure of 69 blocks from four people rests on these two outlets alone.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.