Mahahual, Q.R. — Three men caught transporting three tons of cocaine off the coast of Mahahual have been formally charged. The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) says the three men have been charged “for their alleged responsibility for the transportation of cocaine hydrochloride with the aggravating circumstance of gang.”
Those arrested have been identified as Adalberto “E”, Guadalupe “V” and Cándido “G”. They were captured while traveling aboard a smaller boat with two outboard motors about 165 nautical miles southeast of Mahahual, Quintana Roo, the FGR reported.
The boat was detected by elements of the Mexican Navy Secretariat (SEMAR), acting as Coast Guard, who found the vessel was being manned by three people and had no name, registration, flag or lights, “so they proceeded to intercept it,” the FGR said.
“After an inspection, they discovered 153 jute bags, one of them torn and letting out a white powder that, according to the expert reports carried out later, turned out to be cocaine hydrochloride, which in total amounted to 2,938 kilos and 18 grams.
“Likewise, they located drums that contained different levels of liquid. The detainees, the boat and the insured were transferred to the Fishermen of Mahahual Naval Zone Dock in Quintana Roo,” the State Attorney of the Republic (FGR) said in a statement.
In May, their boat was one of three captured by authorities during nighttime surveillance tours. The other two boats were captured off the coast of Belize and Puerto Rico around the same time. They are believed all linked to the same criminal group.
A Cancun judge has ordered a hearing for all three for the transporting of drugs in Mexican waters. Their trials are set to begin in two months. All three remain detained at the Social Reintegration Center of Cancun.
