In an effort to stem the tide of drug trafficking occurring in Puerto Rico and the flow of illegal drugs coming from South America, a large scale drug raid was conducted on the island. Over 500 U.S. drug agents, Puerto Rican police and several Caribbean law enforcement agency’s swept through the island mostly in the western coastal areas.
The western coastal area and specifically the city of Mayaguez was a focal point of the raids because it is considered a key point of entry for drugs coming from South American and Caribbean nations. In addition, several large housing projects on the island were raided as distribution points for illegal drugs. Law enforcement had roughly 158 arrest warrants to enforce and seize millions of dollars in property as part of its mandate while conducting the raids.
