|
|
|
Eight duffel bags, containing 176 kilos (388 pounds) of cocaine were turned over to Immigration Customs Enforcement by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office after an investigation that began with a rescue of two illegal aliens on January 16.
Mancuso said during a press conference on Thursday that the street value of the drugs was just over $6 million.
Carlos Hurtando-Valois, 30, of Venezuela, and Felipe Gonzales Valencia, 47, of Columbia, were almost hypothermic when they called for help. Both men were stuck in 48 degree weather with a northern wind gusting up to 25 miles per hour on a small island (determined by GPS coordinates as being between CITGO Clifton Ridge and Graywood Golf Course).
CPSO Marine Division Sergeant Johnson rescued the two men, one of whom was unconscious. Johnson notified Border Control and Acadian Ambulance, who met Johnson at Prien Lake Park in Lake Charles. Both men were treated and then released into Border Patrol custody.
Acting on a tip from CPSO Detective David Burnett that one of the men had previously been convicted for smuggling drugs, Johnson decided to search the island where the men were found. Johnson contacted Patrick Hebert of Marshland Rentals, who agreed to help with the search and provided air boats to CPSO officers.
At approximately 2 p.m. the following day, Johnson, Hebert and CPSO Reserve Deputy Michael Shetler located footprints near the area where the men had been found. Following them, the officers located two life jackets, several plastic bags, and rope. Other tracks led them about 40 yards to a tree, where they recovered the eight duffel bags with many packages of what was later identified as cocaine wrapped in balloons.
CPSO Sheriff Tony Mancuso commended Johnson and his fellow officers for taking the initiative and making one of the largest, if not the actual largest, cocaine busts in Calcasieu Parish history.
Valencia and Hurtando-Valois are currently being held in a secure ICE facility after being charged with illegal entry into the country and cocaine smuggling.
CPSO, along with the Combined Anti-Drug Team (C.A.T.) Narcotics Task Force and ICE are jointly conducting the investigation.
Eight duffel bags, containing 176 kilos (388 pounds) of cocaine were turned over to Immigration Customs Enforcement by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office after an investigation that began with a rescue of two illegal aliens on January 16.
Mancuso said during a press conference on Thursday that the street value of the drugs was just over $6 million.
Carlos Hurtando-Valois, 30, of Venezuela, and Felipe Gonzales Valencia, 47, of Columbia, were almost hypothermic when they called for help. Both men were stuck in 48 degree weather with a northern wind gusting up to 25 miles per hour on a small island (determined by GPS coordinates as being between CITGO Clifton Ridge and Graywood Golf Course).
CPSO Marine Division Sergeant Johnson rescued the two men, one of whom was unconscious. Johnson notified Border Control and Acadian Ambulance, who met Johnson at Prien Lake Park in Lake Charles. Both men were treated and then released into Border Patrol custody.
Acting on a tip from CPSO Detective David Burnett that one of the men had previously been convicted for smuggling drugs, Johnson decided to search the island where the men were found. Johnson contacted Patrick Hebert of Marshland Rentals, who agreed to help with the search and provided air boats to CPSO officers.
At approximately 2 p.m. the following day, Johnson, Hebert and CPSO Reserve Deputy Michael Shetler located footprints near the area where the men had been found. Following them, the officers located two life jackets, several plastic bags, and rope. Other tracks led them about 40 yards to a tree, where they recovered the eight duffel bags with many packages of what was later identified as cocaine wrapped in balloons.
CPSO Sheriff Tony Mancuso commended Johnson and his fellow officers for taking the initiative and making one of the largest, if not the actual largest, cocaine busts in Calcasieu Parish history.
Valencia and Hurtando-Valois are currently being held in a secure ICE facility after being charged with illegal entry into the country and cocaine smuggling.
CPSO, along with the Combined Anti-Drug Team (C.A.T.) Narcotics Task Force and ICE are jointly conducting the investigation.
