The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released a summary of its fiscal year (FY) 2019 border enforcement operation in the Caribbean, saying that the initiative was possible through collaborative operations and partnerships with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
CPB said the operation has become “an integral part” of its procedures, “in order to manage illicit activity throughout the area.”
“CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) played a major role in the determent of illegal activity throughout our coasts, through the coordinated use of integrated air and marine forces to detect, interdict and prevent the unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and other contraband in the area,” the statement said.
It said AMO agents seized 67,615 pounds of narcotics and US$28 million in currency.
Throughout Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI), CPB said 1,434 immigrants were apprehended for the federal fiscal year.
The Ramey Border Patrol Sector arrested and processed 562 immigrants and other federal, state and local partners’ interdicted 876 migrants in the Caribbean Sea.
The report also said immigrants with prior criminal history represented 28 percent of the total apprehensions.
Ramey Border Patrol presented 159 immigrants for federal criminal prosecution; 83 of which had prior felony criminal convictions, CBP said.
Border Patrol Agents also seized 6,010 pounds of narcotics.
After a decade-long US$12 million investment, with the Operation Stonegarden Grant Programme (OPSG), CBP said “municipal and territorial law enforcement have been able to work with the Ramey Border Patrol Sector to make a difference in protecting the border.”
It said enforcement actions have resulted in the seizure of well over 6,400 pounds of narcotics, worth over US$45 million, and the apprehension of over 2,000 illegal immigrants.
CBP said officers and agriculture specialists work to protect the US borders at the ports of entry, “while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”
It said agents processed 4,947,511 million travelers and 115,008 containers through our ports of entry during fiscal year 2019.
During this time, CBP said officers seized 17,227 pounds of narcotics and arrested 77 individuals, of which 23 were wanted for crimes, including murder, rape, assault and robbery.
CBP officers also denied entry to more than 737 people attempting to illegally enter the US through air or sea ports of entry in Puerto Rico or the USVI.
Furthermore, CBP said US$16 million of undeclared currency and over 34 firearms were seized.
In addition, this fiscal year, CBP said its San Juan Field Office processed nearly 35,531,735 imported product entries, representing nearly 25.3 billion in regional trade volume.
This volume represented the collection of US$230,935,549 in revenue for the United States, CBP said.
It said officers conducted more than 3,886 seizures-related Intellectual Property Rights violations, with a domestic value of about US$38,733,569. (CMC)
