Dominican nationals charged in US federal cocaine smuggling case in Puerto Rico

Three men from the Dominican Republic – José Manuel Clase Montilla, Daniel Luis Cuevas and Pedro Emmanuel Carrión Sánchez – were indicted on May 28 by a U.S. federal grand jury for conspiring to import and distribute large amounts of cocaine into the United States. Federal agents seized approximately 178 kg of cocaine from a vessel intercepted in U.S. waters near Puerto Rico, an operation led by the inter‑agency National Security Task Force. The defendants also face immigration charges for unlawful entry. The case will be prosecuted by U.S. District Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow in the District of Puerto Rico.