According to reports, three Mexican drug traffickers were arrested for conspiring to transport over three tons of cocaine to New York City. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss confirmed that the boat was carrying roughly 2,960 kilograms of cocaine. The Navy began tracking the boat as it headed north in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Quintana Roo. Authorities took Raymundo Montoya-Lopez, 45, Abraham Alfonso Garcia-Montoya, 31, and Felizardo Diaz-Hernandez, 39, into custody. All three men hail from Sinoloa.
“As alleged, these defendants are responsible for the attempted importation of more than three tons of cocaine into the United States. Thanks to the work of the DEA and the Mexican Navy, the shipment was interdicted and the defendants are in custody and facing federal prosecution," Strauss said.
The seizure included the help of other law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, New York State Police, and the NYPD. DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond P. Donovan said of the seizure, “Law enforcement thwarted cartel plans to saturate the American drug market with cocaine by intercepting over three tons of cocaine heading towards American towns," adding, "This international enforcement operation has saved lives and reemphasized law enforcement’s commitment to keeping America safe from drug trafficking, drug abuse, and violent crime."
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea added, "Our NYPD officers, working with our law enforcement partners and federal prosecutors, follow the facts anywhere in the world to achieve justice, in this case interdicting nearly three tons of cocaine off the coast of Mexico.”
All three men face possible 10-year prison sentences on the low end and life sentences if convicted with the maximum penalty.
Source: fox5ny.com
