MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard apprehended three suspected smugglers from the Dominican Republic who were found with 466 pounds of cocaine off the coast of Puerto Rico Tuesday morning.
On Wednesday, the suspects were transferred into the custody of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement special agents.
The Coast Guard said the men were traveling on a 20-foot boat toward Puerto Rico with the drug shipment, estimated to have a wholesale value of about $7 million.
A Coast Guard aircraft based in Miami Beach detected the boat, and a separate Coast Guard team was able to interdict the boat.
Authorities said nine bales of cocaine were found.
The drugs and suspects were taken to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they were transferred into the custody of ICE.
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