Stowaway with 789 pounds of cocaine pulled from harbor, Coast Guard says

Coast Guard officials in San Juan, Puerto Rico, discovered a stowaway attempting to smuggle 789 pounds of cocaine into the Old Army Terminal port during a routine maritime operation. The dramatic unfold began when crew members spotted the individual as a barge was being tugged into the harbor. Upon closer inspection, authorities noticed the stowaway in the water near the vessel, prompting an immediate investigation and subsequent recovery of the substantial drug shipment. The Coast Guard confirmed that the cocaine was either being transported on the barge or concealed on the stowaway's person when they were pulled from the harbor waters. This significant seizure represents one of the largest drug busts at the San Juan port this year, highlighting the ongoing challenges authorities face in combating maritime drug trafficking in the Caribbean region. The incident underscores the persistent efforts of drug cartels to use maritime routes for smuggling operations between South America and the United States.