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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with other members of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF), arrested three Dominican Republic nationals for drug trafficking and seized 918 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $22 million Monday, September 17, 2012, off the southern coast of Puerto Rico.
"In less than one month HSI and its partners in the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force have seized more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine," said Angel Melendez, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "These seizures and related arrests are clear proof that HSI, along with our state and federal partners, are vigilant and will not tolerate the importation of illegal drugs into the United States through Puerto Rico."
On Sept. 17, Puerto Rico Police Department's (PRPD) United Forces for Rapid Action (FURA), working jointly with CCSF partners, detected a suspicious vessel with two outboard engines reaching the shores of Tuna Beach in the town of Maunabo, Puerto Rico. Immediately after detection FURA, with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol, proceeded to intercept the vessel which had made it to the beach with 811 bricks of cocaine inside.
Three Dominican Republic nationals, Cecilio Mercedes-De la Cruz, Jose Miguel Guzman-De los Santos and Victor Manuel Carela, were arrested in conjunction with the seizure. They had their initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Velez-Rive Tuesday and were transferred to the Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of their case.
CCSF is an initiative of the U.S. Attorney's Office created to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations operating in the Caribbean. CCSF is part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force that investigate 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 HSI, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Coast Guard, CBP and PRPD's FURA.
A former airline employee was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Friday, September 7, 2012, after smuggling more than $150,000 on a commercial carrier from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to the Dominican Republic.
The sentencing comes after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Juan Adames, 29, of Ridgefield Park, N.J., pleaded guilty to bulk cash smuggling and other related charges in June 2012. Adames was arrested in August 2010 after failing to declare approximately $153,000 to customs officers in the Dominican Republic. After his arrest and seizure of the funds, customs officials in the Dominican Republic released Adames and notified HSI special agents who subsequently began an investigation.
According to the investigation, Adames used his position as a commercial airline employee to circumvent federal screening procedures at PHL before reaching his destination. When he returned to the U.S. in January 2012, he was arrested by HSI special agents and charged.
"A major vulnerability was ultimately identified and closed as a result of this case," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge for HSI Philadelphia. "We simply will not allow individuals working in and around commercial aircraft to exploit their positions for criminal ends. Through the cooperation of our domestic and international law enforcement partners, we will continue to ensure the safety and security of the flying public."
As part of the effort to combat bulk cash smuggling, ICE established the National Bulk Cash Smuggling Center (BCSC) in 2009. Since its inception, the center has initiated 474 criminal investigations, which have resulted in nearly 270 criminal arrests and the seizure of more than $170 million.
The BCSC is an operational, intelligence driven investigative unit with the mission to challenge bulk cash smuggling from both national and international perspectives. The BCSC is focused on the disruption of facilitation pipelines used to move currency derived from illicit activity including drugs, weapons, human trafficking, foreign political corruption and contraband.
