Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that 17 people have been charged in Puerto Rico with possessing and distributing cocaine that was shipped by airplane or mail to various destinations in the United States. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendants moved the narcotics through the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Héctor Ramírez Carbó said the accused include leaders, recruiters, and "mules" who physically transported the drugs. The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with cooperation from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Yariel Ramos, acting special agent in charge of HSI, warned that "those who believe they can use our airports and postal systems to traffic illegal substances" should consider the arrests a warning, adding that authorities are watching and working to dismantle such operations.
If convicted of drug trafficking charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.