October 24, 2007

ICE teams up with CBP to seize 130 kilos of cocaine with a street value of more than $3 million

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Two men were arrested here yesterday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents for allegedly attempting to illegally import into the United States 130.96 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of more than $3 million.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) air and marine officers detected Wilfredo Padilla-Quiñones, 57, and Luciano Padilla, 21, as they were suspiciously navigating without any lights in a 20-foot, yawl-type vessel near the west coast of Puerto Rico.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., the CBP marine enforcement officers intercepted the vessel and proceeded to stop it when its occupants began throwing overboard bales of what appeared to be contraband.

A subsequent field test of the contraband recovered from the water revealed that it was cocaine.

"ICE agents work closely with CBP officers to detect and arrest those who try to smuggle contraband into our country," said Roberto Escobar Vargas, acting special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Puerto Rico. "Together, we have the technical expertise, resources and technology to detect those who attempt to violate our laws."

Wilfredo Padilla-Quiñones and Luciano Padilla were transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico where they remain awaiting the outcome of their cases.

Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eugenio A. Lomba.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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