U.S. Coast Guard help in the capture of three drug trafficking suspects

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Panamá Coast Guard supported the interception of a go-fast boat.
/ U.S. Coast Guard and Ministry of Public Security courtesy photos.

.......

-Published: Wednesday, December 11, 2019-

U.S. Coast Guard help in the capture
of three drug trafficking suspects

By A.M. Costa Rica staff

The U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday helped the police of the Air Surveillance Service in the arrest of two Nicaraguans and one Costa Rican who were sailing with a cargo officials reported as cocaine.

According to a Ministry of Public Security report, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Panamá Coast Guard supported the interception of a go-fast boat, which was sailing 15 nautical miles off the port of Limón in the Caribbean Sea.

The gray, 32-foot, twin engine boat had no name or flag, police officials said, adding that 47 bags, each containing packages of cocaine, were found. The weight of the drug was 1,183 kilograms, said the ministry.

Three crew members detained were a 55-year-old Nicaraguan man surnamed Humpheys-Hudgson, 1 28-year-old Nicaraguan man surnamed Reyes-Gonzalez and a 34-year-old Costa Rican surnamed Bryan-Frederick.

According to the police, in addition to the crew, a firearm, a magazine and 29 bullets, electronic equipment and jewelry were seized.

The three suspects were jailed at the Public Ministry cells where they were interrogated by the judicial agents and after that, they are facing a judge who will consider pre-trial measures.

Another case where the U.S. Coast Guard helped in the arrest of other suspected drug traffickers was in October.

The U.S. Coast Guard helped the officers of the Drug Control Police in the arrest of three Costa Ricans who were alleged to be transporting a cocaine cargo.

According to the police report, the U.S. crew members managed to stop a ship, named Mahi Mahi, which was sailing 130 nautical miles off Mata Palo Beach in the Osa Peninsula in the Province of Puntarenas.

The ship was manned by three Costa Ricans, surnamed Centeno-Hernández, 56, Medina-Azofeifa, 27, and Cabrera-Granda, 44, said the police in a report.

The U.S. crew members also managed to tow the ship to the port of Golfito in the southern zone of the country.

The police proceeded with the search of the ship where they said they found 660 packages of approximately one kilogram each of cocaine. Both the ship and the cargo were seized as evidence against the suspects.

The three men were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where a judge ordered six months of pre-trial detention against them.

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What should the ministry do in the fight drug trafficking? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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