US Coast Guard Arrests Stowaway Smuggler, Seizes $5 Million Worth Of Cocaine In San Juan Harbor

U.S. Coast Guard officers, working with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Task Force partners, arrested a stowaway smuggler and seized a large quantity of cocaine during an early-morning operation in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, on 28 January 2026.

Authorities said the seized cocaine weighed about 358 kilograms, or nearly 789 pounds, and had an estimated wholesale value of more than $5 million.

The drugs were recovered in 10 bales. The suspect was taken into custody and is expected to face federal drug trafficking charges.

The operation began shortly before 6 a.m. when Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a radio call on VHF Channel 16 from the tug vessel Signet Thunder.

The tug was towing the barge San Juan-JaxBridge towards the Old Army Terminal port facility when a crewmember from an assist tug boarded the barge and discovered a stowaway.

The vessel then stopped and waited for assistance.

Coast Guard watchstanders launched boats from Station San Juan and alerted Homeland Security Task Force partners, including Customs and Border Protection’s Caribbean Air and Marine Branch, CBP Office of Field Operations, and Puerto Rico Police marine units.

An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was also issued to warn nearby vessels.

During the response, Coast Guard crews found one person in the water along with 10 bales of suspected cocaine floating nearby. Both the individual and the drugs were recovered and brought ashore.

After the recovery, Coast Guard boarding teams and CBP officers inspected the tug Signet Thunder and the barge San Juan-JaxBridge. Officials confirmed that no other stowaways or illegal cargo were found onboard.

The suspect and seized cocaine were later handed over to Homeland Security Task Force–San Juan partners at Coast Guard Base San Juan for further investigation.

Reference: USCG

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