US Coast Guard seizes haul of cocaine, captures 2 trafficking suspects in Dominican waters

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The U.S. Coast Guard says it has seized a haul of cocaine and captured two smugglers in waters south of the Dominican Republic.

In a Tuesday statement, the Coast Guard said the crew of the 210-foot (64-meter) cutter Decisive intercepted a go-fast boat with two outboard engines. The crew went after the boat late Friday after a Canadian maritime patrol aircraft detected the vessel speeding toward the Dominican Republic.

When crew searched the speedboat they allegedly found 317 pounds (143 kilograms) of cocaine in six bales.

The two suspects on board were later transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Puerto Rico. Their nationalities were not disclosed.

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