Sandy MaloneCabo Rojo, Puerto Rico – At least five U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were shot on Thursday morning as they attempted to board a suspected drug smuggling boat off the coast of Puerto Rico.
The incident occurred at about 8 a.m. on Nov. 17 about 14 miles off the southwest coast of the island near Cabo Rojo, FOX News reported.
“On Nov. 17, at approximately 8:00AM, three CBP Marine Interdiction Agents were involved in an exchange of gunfire with individuals on board a suspected smuggling vessel upon approach 14 miles off the coast of Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico,” CBP said in a statement.
A gun battle erupted and multiple federal agents were shot.
“The Marine Agents suffered various gunshot injuries as a result,” the CBP statement continued.
This morning, 3 @CBP Marine Interdiction Agents “were involved in an exchange of gunfire with individuals on board a suspected smuggling vessel upon approach 14 miles a off the coast of Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico. The Agents suffered various gunshot injuries as a result”, CBP states. pic.twitter.com/aX8qGrChAR
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) November 17, 2022
“The agents are being airlifted by CBP and Coast Guard to the Puerto Rico Trauma Center,” it continued. “The event is currently under investigation. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.”
The Marine Interdiction Agents shot back at those on the suspected smuggling vessel and suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Coast Guard was called in to assist and airlift the agents to a Puerto Rican hospital, CBP said.
— Quinn Owen (@quinn_owen) November 17, 2022
Federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) responded to the scene to head up the investigation, the Washington Examiner reported.
* Multiple CBP agents wounded in shootout with suspected smugglers off Puerto Rican coast Fox News
* 3 US Customs agents shot, wounded… pic.twitter.com/BdIhLo2vdE— Newspaper Lists💞 (@NewspaperLists) November 17, 2022
Multiple U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were shot while boarding a suspected smuggling vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico this morning. The District of Maryland and @USMarshalsHQ would like to let @CBP know they are in our thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/MRMTvuAX4y
— USMS Baltimore (@USMSBaltimore) November 17, 2022
SCOOP: CBP sources say 5 U.S. border agents shot, including one fatally, by narcos off the coast of Puerto Rico
The agents are not Border Patrol, but from Customs & Border Protection's Air & Marine Operations arm.
The agents were taken back to land and life-flighted.@CBPAMO pic.twitter.com/5wQdXXmxgw
— Anna Giaritelli (@Anna_Giaritelli) November 17, 2022
#PUERTORICO: Multiple U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were shot while boarding a suspected smuggling vessel off the coast on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/E1CVkWenTJ
— CaribbeanNewsNetwork (@caribbeannewsuk) November 17, 2022
#BORDERNEWS Three CBP Air Marine Operations Agents were shot this morning near Puerto Rico. The details amid the shooting are still under investigation. I’ll keep you updated with the latest. pic.twitter.com/b8KWSkyr2y
— Sydney Hernández (@SydneyHdzTV) November 17, 2022
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Holly Matkin
