At approximately 0809 EST, reports began to emerge of several people killed and wounded during a firefight with drug traffickers fourteen miles off the coast of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. It has now been confirmed that four U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers are being transported to the Trauma Center at the Río Piedras Medical Center via helicopter.
There have also been two confirmed deaths from the incident, although it is not clear if those are the traffickers or federal agents. AS of writing this post, at least one trafficker has also been transported via helicopter to the trauma center.
The agents involved are reportedly members of the Customs anf Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations branch. AMO employs over 1,200 Federal Agents and Officers at 70 locations, operating more than 260 aircraft of 26 different types, and approximately 300 maritime vessels. It is one of the major operational components within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, along with the Office of Field Operations (OFO) and United States Border Patrol (USBP).
