U.S. Coast Guard officers apprehended a stowaway carrying a firearm and approximately 524 pounds of cocaine on a barge in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday.
The suspect was found aboard the Crimson Clover barge during a boarding operation involving crew from two Coast Guard cutters and a Homeland Security task force. Officers recovered nine bales of cocaine weighing 237.75 kilograms along with the weapon.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo later took custody of the individual, the drugs and the firearm at Coast Guard Base San Juan. The cocaine was estimated to have a street value of $4.8 million. Authorities have not released the suspect's identity.
Lt. Cmdr. Ross Markham said a collective pool of experience and available assets led to a safe boarding and discovery that deters smuggling organizations from exploiting commercial vessels.
This marks the second such incident this year in the same harbor, following a February arrest involving 789 pounds of cocaine.