CG JOSEPH TEZANOS

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Coast Guard Cutter interdicted boat with 176 kgs of cocaine

The ' Joseph Tezanos' offloaded 176 kgs of seized cocaine and transferred custody of two smugglers to DEA Special Agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, on Sep 29. The interdiction was the result of multi-agency efforts in support of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force, while the seized cocaine is estimated to have a wholesale value of $4.3 million. The apprehended smugglers were U.S. citizens, who were facing federal prosecution in Puerto Rico on criminal charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The charges carry a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Helena B. Daniel and Max Pérez-Bouret, Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Section were prosecuting the case. On the morning of Sep 28, a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft had detected a suspicious 22-foot sport-craft vessel in international waters navigating towards Rincón, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the 'Joseph Tezanos' to the scene, which stopped the vessel. Once alongside, the crew located 142 brick-sized packages of suspected contraband inside the vessel, which tested positive for cocaine. The two persons onboard the vessel were arrested. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3923080/coast-guard-offloads-43-million-in-seized-cocaine-transfers-2-smugglers-to-dea/

Coast Guard Cutter rescued 14 Haitian migrants left stranded by smugglers on Monito Island

The 'Joseph Tezanos' rescued 14 migrants on Sep 29, who were left stranded by smugglers on the uninhabited natural reserve of Monito Island, Puerto Rico, in the Mona Passage. The rescue involved efforts and coordination with Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) partner agencies and Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Park Rangers. Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan, Puerto Rico had received a communication from the Puerto Rico Natural and Environmental Resources on Mona Island, reporting flashlight signaling from Monito Island potentially coming from stranded migrants on the uninhabited natural reserve. The 'Joseph Tezanos' and a Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft responded to provide assistance. Once on-scene, the crew of the 'Joseph Tezanos' confirmed the report and provided life jackets to 14 migrants, among them six men, five women and three minors, who claimed to be Haitian nationals. The boat crew provided instructions to each migrant for them to hold onto a life ring wearing a life jacket and jump into the water. Once in the water, the boat crew safely recovered each migrant. They had to recover one migrant who sustained injuries on Monito Island and was unconscious. The rescued migrants were safely embarked aboard the 'Joseph Tezanos', while the injured migrant regained consciousness and was stabilized with the assistance of the cutter's Emergency Medical Technician. All 14 migrants were transferred to the custody of Ramey Sector U.S Border Patrol agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where Emergency Medical Service personnel rendered assistance, received the injured migrant, and transported him to a local hospital. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3924020/coast-guard-rescues-14-haitian-migrants-left-stranded-by-smugglers-on-monito-is/

20 migrants rescued off Samana

The 'Joseph Tezanos' and the Dominican Republic Navy patrol boat 'Capella' rescued 20 migrants from a disabled vessel taking on water in the Atlantic on the night of Sep 2. The crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft detected a suspect 20-foot migrant vessel, approximately 30 nautical miles northeast of Samana. The aircrew reported seeing the migrants signaling for assistance and bailing out water from the makeshift vessel. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the 'Joseph Tezanos' and notified Dominican Republic Navy authorities, who directed the launch of the 'Capella' to the scene. Shortly thereafter, the 'Joseph Tezanos' arrived on scene, and the crew provided 18 life jackets to the migrants and assisted with the safe transfer of all 20 migrants, 18 men and two women, to the patrol boat. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3895374/coast-guard-dominican-republic-navy-rescue-20-migrants-from-sinking-vessel-in-a/