US customs agents chase down boat near Puerto Rico and seize 209 bricks of cocaine; 2 detained

Cocaine seized from boat near PRico; 2 detained

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico — U.S. authorities have seized 241 kilograms (about 530 pounds) of cocaine from a makeshift boat traveling toward Puerto Rico’s west coast.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents said Thursday that after a brief chase, they detained two U.S. citizens aboard the boat and seized 209 bricks of cocaine.

The suspects were identified as Joel Badillo Morales and Carlos Rodriguez Agudo. They were detained late Wednesday.

Puerto Rico is a major drug transit point in the Caribbean.