Jamaican News

US Coast Guard says 50 bales of cocaine seized, 2 men detained off coast of Dominican Republic

Drug Bust

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic _ U.S. authorities say two alleged drug traffickers have been detained off the coast of the Dominican Republic and 50 bales of cocaine have been seized.

The U.S. Coast Guard said in a Wednesday statement that the crew from one of its cutters boarded a suspicious speedboat in Dominican waters. They reportedly found 18 bales of cocaine and detained two men. The suspects were transferred to authorities in the Dominican Republic, where they are expected to be prosecuted.

The Dominican Navy also recovered 32 bales of cocaine thrown off another drug-smuggling boat during a chase. There were no arrests in that operation.

Coast Guard officials estimated the value of the drugs seized in both operations at $24 million.

According to U.S. officials, an estimated 6 per cent of the cocaine bound for the U.S. passes through the Dominican Republic.

The Associated Press

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