MADRID, Spain.- The General Customs of the Republic (AGR) seized 14 kilograms of drugs at the country’s air and sea borders during the first five months of the year.
Mainly cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and synthetic cannabinoids (artificial chemical compounds) were seized. In 12 of the cases, the traffickers were Cubans and eight were foreigners, according to official information released this Tuesday.
In a press conference on this subject, Nelson Gutiérrez Acosta, director of Customs Risk Management and Control, pointed out that in May of last year a modern office for real-time operational communication was inaugurated in terminal 3 of the José Martí International Airport between international airports to counter organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and prevent terrorism (AIRCOP for its acronym in English).
The office “has given encouraging results and its installation is even planned in the Juan Gualberto Gómez in Varadero, Matanzas province, and in others,” said the headline, quoted by the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
One of the most recent cases of drug trafficking on the island was reported this month, when the Cuban Border Guard, in coordination with the United States Coast Guard Service, seized 17 containers with 340.7 kg of marijuana in waters near the Banes municipality, Holguín province.
According to information from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), on May 18, the Miami Coast Guard Service informed the Cuban authorities about the presence in that area of a vessel suspected of drug trafficking with two crew members on board.
Two surface units of Border Guard Troops went to the place and began the pursuit. The Coast Guard Service informed the Cuban authorities that the boat was intercepted and sunk by its crew, who were detained by the United States.
The insured containers were transferred to the Holguín Naval Squadron and delivered to the Provincial Operational Guard.
While last April Cuban authorities broke up a drug trafficking group that was organized from abroad and seized more than 300 kilograms of marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines. Narcotics entered the Island both by air and by sea. Twenty-six people were arrested for their involvement in trafficking.
