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Agents from the United States Border Patrol (USBP) and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office arrested the captain of a charter boat in Miami and seized a significant amount of cocaine, as well as a firearm, cash, and the vessel itself.
The Chief of the Border Patrol, Michael W. Banks, confirmed on X that during the operation, "more than 22 kilograms of cocaine" were seized, equivalent to over 50 pounds, along with a firearm, about $8,000 in what he described as "ill-gotten gains," and the vessel used by the suspect.
The detained individual is a United States citizen and is facing charges for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
"Our law enforcement operations are the first line of defense in keeping these deadly narcotics out of our neighborhoods and away from our families," Banks stated in his tweet.
Although he did not reveal the identity of the captain, he did emphasize that the arrest was the result of a joint effort between federal and local agencies.
Authorities have not yet specified how the trafficking operation was detected or where the drugs originated, but this case adds to a series of recent seizures in South Florida, a region regarded as a strategic point for the maritime entry of narcotics.
The detainee is in federal custody and will have to appear before a court, where he will be formally charged with possession with intent to distribute.
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