Signet-Thunder

The Coast Guard Station San Juan and Sector San Juan Boarding Team members working with the Homeland Security Task Force - San Juan Region partner agencies apprehended a stowaway smuggler and seized ten bales of cocaine in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 28, 2026. The seized contraband weighed a combined total of 358 kgs was is estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $5 million. The apprehended suspect faced federal prosecution on drug trafficking charges. Sector San Juan Command Center watchstanders had received a VHF Channel 16 marine radio communication from the inbound 'Signet Thunder' at approximately 5:48 a.m., while the tug was towing the barge 'San Juan-JaxBridge' to the Old Army Terminal port facility in the port of San Juan. The tug reported that a crew member from an assist tug had boarded the barge and sighted a stowaway onboard. The tug further relayed they would hold position and wait for assistance. The watchstanders directed the boat of the Station San Juan to launch and alerted Customs and Border Protection’s Caribbean Air and Marine Branch and Office of Field Operations, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine units which also responded. The watchstanders issued an UMIB to advise vessel traffic to be on the lookout. Shortly thereafter, the San Juan boat crew sighted and recovered one person and ten bales of suspected contraband from the water. At the pier side, a boarding team and officers of the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations boarded the 'Signet Thunder' and the barge and found no other stowaways or contraband onboard. The suspect and seized contraband were transferred to the Homeland Security Task Force-San Juan law enforcement partners at Coast Guard Base San Juan, Puerto Rico. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4400036/coast-guard-cbp-homeland-security-task-force-partner-agencies-apprehend-stowawa/