Two Bahamian nationals have been charged with attempting to smuggle approximately 188 kilograms of cocaine into the United States aboard a water vessel, according to a criminal complaint filed on January 5, 2025.
The complaint states that at approximately 11 a.m. on January 5, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) were alerted by the Air and Marine Operations Center (AMOC) about a suspicious vessel headed toward the Port Everglades Inlet. AMO agents from the Fort Lauderdale and Miami Marine Units responded quickly, launching several Coastal Interceptor Vessels (CIV) to intercept the vessel.
Using real-time updates from AMOC regarding the vessel’s position, course, and speed, agents successfully intercepted the Contender Center Console vessel about four nautical miles from Hillsboro Inlet. The vessel, carrying Alfred Lynton Laing and Runo Traveeno Laing, both of the Bahamas, was escorted to a nearby harbor for inspection.
During the inspection, agents discovered approximately 188 kilograms of cocaine, packed into individually wrapped bricks and hidden within the vessel.
Alfred and Runo Laing are scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on January 21, 2025, at 11 a.m.
The investigation was conducted by AMO and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nardia Haye is prosecuting.
A criminal complaint is an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.