Crime & SafetyVirginia

Six individuals sentenced for involvement in massive cocaine trafficking operation intercepted by the Coast Guard

Virginia – Authorities in Virginia have sentenced six individuals, four from Mexico and two from Ecuador, for their involvement in a major cocaine trafficking operation intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard in international waters last year. The individuals were found guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine after being apprehended off the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Coast Guard Operation Leads to Arrests

According to official reports, the incident occurred on February 24, 2024, when a helicopter from the Coast Guard Cutter Munro, conducting a routine patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, detected a go-fast vessel (GFV) without identifying markings approximately 450 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. Suspicious of illicit activity, the Munro was redirected to intercept the vessel.

A long-range interceptor (LRI) small boat was deployed to the last known position of the GFV. As the helicopter tracked the vessel, it observed the crew jettisoning a fuel barrel into the ocean. After issuing multiple warnings, the helicopter fired warning shots, forcing the vessel to stop.

The boarding team took control of the vessel and found six individuals onboard. They were identified as Rudi Euriel Santos Bernal, Juan Manuel Gastelum Valenzuela, Ronny Rosado Alvarez, Juan Ramon Vega Cardenas, Manuel Rodrigo Otero Rivera, and Kennedy Samuel Rivera Flores. None of them claimed nationality for the vessel, leading authorities to classify it as “without nationality,” which allowed for a full law enforcement search. During the operation, authorities discovered 38 bales of cocaine with an estimated at-sea weight of 1,790 kilograms.

Sentencing and Legal Proceedings

Following their arrests, each individual faced prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia. The court proceedings resulted in the following sentences:

  • Juan Manuel Gastelum Valenzuela pled guilty on August 19, 2024, and received a two-year prison sentence on December 18, 2024.
  • Ronny Rosado Alvarez and Kennedy Samuel Rivera Flores pled guilty on August 20, 2024, and both were sentenced to two years in prison. Rivera Flores received his sentence on December 19, 2024, while Rosado Alvarez was sentenced on December 18, 2024.
  • Manuel Rodrigo Otero Rivera and Juan Ramon Vega Cardenas pled guilty on July 29, 2024. Otero Rivera was sentenced to two years in prison on December 11, 2024, while Vega Cardenas was sentenced on January 21, 2025, to two years and three months in prison.
  • Rudi Euriel Santos Bernal pled guilty on September 18, 2024, and was sentenced to two years in prison on January 21, 2025.

Government Response and Prosecution Efforts

U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert of the Eastern District of Virginia, along with Acting Special Agents in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division and Kai Wah Chan of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., announced the sentences.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric M. Hurt and Kevin M. Comstock led the prosecution, ensuring that those responsible faced justice for their roles in the large-scale drug trafficking operation.

Continued Efforts to Combat Drug Trafficking

The successful interception and prosecution highlight ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat drug trafficking in international waters. The Coast Guard, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies, remains committed to preventing illicit drugs from entering the country and disrupting criminal networks that operate across borders.

Authorities encourage anyone with information related to drug trafficking operations to report it to law enforcement agencies to aid in ongoing efforts to combat the drug crisis.

Marco Harmon

I was born and raised in Roanoke, VA. I studied Communications Studies at Roanoke College, and I’ve been part of the news industry ever since. Visiting my favorite downtown Roanoke bars and restaurants with my friends is how I spend most of my free time when I'm not at the desk.

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