Four Crewmen Indicted For Drug Trafficking On The High Seas
TAMPA, Fla. - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and A. Lee Bentley, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Linberto Gallardo-(42); Uriel Julio (35); Miguel Vasquez-(37), all of Colombia, South America; and Miguel Angel Sori-(41, Dominican Republic), with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and aiding and abetting each other and other persons to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the US. Each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to a maximum penalty of life in federal prison for each count.
On January 22, 2014, Gallardo-Gonzalez, Tapia, Vasquez-Barrios, and Sori-Ortiz were detained during the interdiction of a go-fast boat traveling at a high rate of speed and carrying approximately 2,500 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $37 million wholesale value. The cocaine was seized in a historic multi-national counterdrug operation south of the Dominican Republic. This interdiction marks the first time a US Coast (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and helicopter embarked on board a foreign flagged military vessel in support of counterdrug operations. The LEDET team and helicopter were operating aboard the British Royal Fleet (RFA) Wave Knight. The USCG helicopter launched from the RFA Wave Knight when the 25-foot go-fast boat was detected with four crewmen and suspicious packages on board, traveling at a high rate of speed. The helicopter crew arrived on scene and attempted to signal the go-fast boat in an effort to stop it. Ultimately, the crew resorted to firing disabling shots to stop the vessel's engine.
During the pursuit, the four crewmen onboard were observed jettisoning multiple packages overboard. After the vessel was stopped, the LEDET team arrived at the scene and detained the crewmen and retrieved 45 bales of cocaine from the debris field, where the packages had been thrown overboard.
The four crewmen were brought to Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division for prosecution. They appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge to be advised of the charges against them and for a bond hearing. They were detained pending the resolution of the case.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
Yesterday, the USCG along with DEA agents offloaded the 45 bales containing approximately 2,500 pounds of cocaine at the Miami Beach Coast Guard Station.
This case was investigated by Panama Express Strike Force, comprised of agents and analysts from the DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, and Joint Interagency Task Force South.
