Early this morning, the San Juan Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF San Juan) intercepted a vessel southeast of Puerto Rico, detaining three Venezuelan nationals and confiscating 643.3 kilograms (1,418 pounds) of cocaine concealed onboard.
The operation kicked off in the early hours of Wednesday when an aircraft from the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CBP AMO) spotted a suspicious vessel traveling without lights, 35 nautical miles off the coast.
Coordinated efforts by air and marine units, including a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and a coastal interceptor boat, led to the detention and search of the boat.
Agents discovered bricks of cocaine hidden inside black fuel containers, a common tactic for disguising shipments during maritime transit.
The packages bore a Soviet-era propaganda poster featuring Stalin with the slogan "Stalin Leads Us to Victory!"—a documented practice by some cartels to mark and track their shipments.
HSTF San Juan confirmed that this operation is part of the initiative under President Trump's Executive Order 14159, titled "Protecting the American People from Invasion."
The task force was established in November 2025 as a comprehensive government partnership, involving federal, state, and local partners aimed at dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations operating in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
HSTF San Juan has had several successful operations this year. In February 2026, the task force was part of another seizure of approximately 1,300 pounds of cocaine in the Atlantic north of Puerto Rico.
In March 2026, the same unit charged 52 members of the criminal organization "La Familia Nunca Muere" with drug and weapons trafficking in Puerto Rico.
The interception comes amid a ramp-up of anti-drug operations in the Caribbean under the Trump administration, including Operation Southern Spear, launched in 2025, which has conducted numerous strikes against narco-terrorist vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Venezuela has been identified as a major origin point for cocaine transiting through the Caribbean to Puerto Rico and the United States. The Soles Cartel, linked to Nicolás Maduro's government, was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by Washington in November 2025.
Maduro faces federal charges in the United States for narcoterrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, following a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela recorded earlier this year.
On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard seized over 7,000 pounds of cocaine in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, highlighting continued pressure on drug trafficking routes in the region.
Impact of Anti-Drug Operations in the Caribbean
What was discovered in the intercepted vessel?
The intercepted vessel contained 643.3 kilograms (1,418 pounds) of cocaine concealed inside black fuel containers.
Who were detained during the operation?
Three Venezuelan nationals were detained during the operation conducted by the HSTF San Juan.
What is the significance of the Soviet propaganda found on the packages?
The Soviet propaganda on the packages, featuring Stalin, is a method used by some cartels to mark and trace their drug shipments.
How has the Trump administration addressed drug trafficking in the Caribbean?
The Trump administration has intensified anti-drug operations in the Caribbean through initiatives like Operation Southern Spear, targeting narco-terrorist vessels.