The United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Navy, intercepted a vessel suspected of drug trafficking on September 5, 2024. The operation took place in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, approximately 427 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. The vessel was found adrift with visible bales on its deck and no national markings.
Julio Contreras Bueno and Christian Garay Ochoa from Mexico were among those found onboard. They appeared before Magistrate G. Alan Teague after being charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on a vessel under U.S. jurisdiction.
Court records indicate that the vessel had a large hole in its bow and was without nationality after Mexican authorities could not confirm or deny its status. A search revealed 35 bales containing substances that tested positive for cocaine. The contraband was confiscated, and the damaged vessel was subsequently sunk.
Francisco Hernandez Penaloza also faces charges but awaits an initial appearance pending his transfer from California. If convicted, the accused face sentences ranging from ten years to life imprisonment.
The investigation is led by the United States Coast Guard and Drug Enforcement Administration as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative. This task force aims to dismantle major criminal organizations through a collaborative approach involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith emphasized that "a criminal Indictment is merely an allegation" and reminded the public that defendants are "presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."