Contraband: Seized at Sea (2024) s01e12 Episode Script

1
In San Juan in Puerto Rico
the overnight ferry from the
Dominican republic
is coming in to port.
All six hundred travelers must pass
through US customs.
Passengers are claiming their luggage
and going through the x-ray machine.
This is a notorious narcotics
smuggling route
and this morning officers are
carrying out a special operation,
hoping to catch criminals in the act.
So far the operation is running
smoothly. No alerts from the canine.
But sometimes no tool is a replacement
for an officer's training and experience.
Officer Ortiz has identified a
potential suspect
due to her nervous behavior.
Go over to that side please.
- Who packed this suitcase?
- Myself.
Are you bringing something for
someone else?
- It's from they sent it.
- Who sent it?
Sometimes smugglers pay travelers to
transport bags that aren't theirs.
The woman claims this suitcase is a
friend's,
raising more red flags for Officer Ortiz.
If we find something,
she's going to be responsible for it.
Inside the suitcase are large quantities
of hair and beauty products.
Does she have a hair salon
business or something like that?
That's hers, for personal use.
- Personal use?
- Yes.
But it's what Officer Ortiz
finds underneath that's concerning.
There's a large stash of
official-looking documents.
One of them, the birth
certificate of a young boy.
Who is this child?
Documents like these are often
smuggled in and out of the country
by criminals involved in identity
fraud, or even human trafficking.
In Fort Lauderdale, vessel commander
Todd and agents Mike and Kyle
are heading out to patrol the
maritime boundary around Florida.
Today, being the weather that it is,
we're going to push past all that
local traffic,
run out to about 12 miles offshore
and start trying to source some traffic
that may be coming back from foreign.
At 8 a.m., temperatures are already
pushing 85 degrees.
We get very little relief here
from the heat,
not only is the sun coming down
but it's reflecting off the water
and coming back up.
It's imperative the guys are
hydrating all day,
because it doesn't matter how much
water you drink, it's never enough.
Within moments of leaving the marina,
air support calls in a target, which
has just entered US federal waters.
A possible target.
It's coming into the Boca inlet,
about 8 miles offshore.
Yeah, 10-4, we're off Fort Lauderdale
beach send coordinates when ready.
The helicopter can only see four
people onboard,
but the boat looks to be carrying
a lot more weight.
Target is approx 25 foot, white
single engine. Low in the water.
That's a good copy, at 270, 14 knots.
Alright, we gotta go.
The airborne team often patrols the
International Maritime Border,
sending targets to their
counterparts on the water.
Marine Interdiction Agents must then
race to intercept the vessel
before it gets the chance to slip away.
I see it right over there,
Todd, right up there.
- Got them?
- Yep.
Troy this is 831 we have visual of
you, we have visual.
The agents prepare to make a
compulsory stop,
using force if necessary.
Portside. Half mile,
not even, quarter mile.
Only when the boat spots the agents
approaching
does it finally start to slow down.
Todd, watch the cabin.
Watch the cabin.
With no potential to call in backup,
the agents are vulnerable while out at sea
and proceed with extreme caution.
What's he reaching for?
Hey! Hey! Put that down!
In Puerto Rico
Are you bringing
something for someone else?
- It's from they sent it.
- Who sent it?
a woman has arrived by ferry from
the from the dominican republic,
with a suitcase that she says
belongs to a friend.
Who is this child?
Inside are official documents,
including a young boy's birth certificate.
That's the son.
- Whose son?
- Hers.
- They live in Puerto Rico?
- Yes.
Officers have seen children's birth
certificates being smuggled before
victims of identity theft or even
human trafficking.
So, this is looking very sketchy. You
have personal documents for children.
We don't know and you don't know
because the suitcase isn't yours.
Let's go. Follow the officer, please.
The woman is taken to a private room
for a more thorough interview,
to determine whether she's involved
in any criminal activity.
If so, she could be arrested and charged.
With your right hand,
do you swear and affirm
to tell the truth and only
the truth, so help you god?
- I do.
- Okay, take a seat.
She is sworn to tell the truth.
Good. Luggage. You have a suitcase
that is not yours?
- Why?
- A friend is sending that.
How do you know her?
Is she your friend? Acquaintance?
She's my fiance's daughter.
A sister.
What do you mean a sister?
The sister is sending it with me so
I hand it over to the other sister.
The woman claims to be visiting her
fiance in Puerto Rico
and was given the suitcase by
one of his daughters,
before she left the Dominican Republic.
And why do they have to send it with you?
Because I was traveling here. People
are like, "can you take this for me?"
Of course, you didn't see anything
wrong with it.
No, Ididn't see anything wrong with it.
You had no knowledge that those
documents were in there?
- Or did you know?
- No. I had no knowledge.
She claims she wasn't aware
the birth certificate was in the suitcase,
the woman says the child is a
member of her partner's family.
What do you do for a living?
Teacher for the Ministry of Education.
- Primary, secondary?
- Primary. I work at a primary school.
I have 28 years of service.
That was exactly what my next
question was.
I have two years left before I get my
pension.
That's great.
The interview is complete.
Now officers must decide what
happens next.
Alright. Let's take a break.
You can sit out there with your luggage.
I'm going to speak to my supervisor
and my colleagues,
if we need anything, we'll call you back.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
If the woman is suspected of being
involved in human trafficking
or identity fraud, she could be
denied entry into the US
or even face criminal charges.
Everything okay?
After the interview conducted by the
officer,
we want to thank you for your honesty
throughout the inspection process.
We've determined that you had no
previous knowledge of the documents
- that you were bringing in with you.
- No.
In this instance, officers believe
she is telling the truth.
But we hope that today serves
as a lesson so that in the future,
you do not agree to bring in anything
for anyone into the United States.
Okay, thanks.
Having been given a warning about
the dangers
of transporting luggage that isn't hers,
the woman is free to enter the
US, where her fiance awaits.
At the second-largest shipping port
in the US,
Customs and border protection
officers at Port Newark process
around 40,000 containers
from China each month.
- It's got two bolts on the side.
- Yes and some on the top.
Today, officers are responding to
a tip-off about a large wooden crate
that's been sent from
the province of Shandong.
We were given some intel from
one of our sister agencies,
it may have concealed contraband in it.
The cargo is listed as a marble slab
The packet's kind of weird though.
but the intel says it may contain
fentanyl.
It's a very unusual way of packaging.
Pull this up from the top pull the
other one up.
And then we should be able to pry it up.
China is one of the primary sources
of fentanyl
a synthetic opioid 50 times as
potent as heroin,
which claims tens of thousands
of lives in the US each year.
It typically arrives from China in
small batches
concealed among other goods.
Officers need to check the contents
of this box,
but it's proving difficult to access.
We're trying to open so we
can examine from the top down.
It's probably going to fall on top of
somebody if we try and take it out.
The wheels are broken.
It weighs a lot.
Eventually officers Jason and Mike
manage to pry the lid off.
It says marble, but not 100 percent
guaranteed that's what it is.
So far we're just down to the packing
material.
We have to get some of this off to
get to the next level.
We have burlap underneath.
- It's weird.
- See this packaging?
It's layer upon layer of more packing
material
but the shape doesn't look like marble.
It's not uniform. Usually it's more
like a slab. This is not a slab.
All the signs suggest this shipment,
isn't what it says on the manifest.
We don't think it's marble.
Right over there. Todd, right over
there. Got it?
Eight miles off the coast of Florida,
a suspicious target spotted by air support
has been intercepted entering US
federal waters.
Todd watch the cabin! Watch the
cabin!
Hey! Hey! Put that down!
As the driver makes a move towards
the cabin,
the agents stop him in his tracks.
The boat's sitting low in the water,
an indication it could be carrying
something it shouldn't be.
- Where are you guys going?
- To the Bahamas, but we're lost.
All right.
Mike and Kyle need to get on board
to check it out.
- Rifles on the deck, Todd, copy?
- Yeah.
Hey, ladies, can you do me a favor?
Grab that fishing pole,
move it to the other side for me.
Leave it in gear.
Keep going, yeah, grab that fishing
pole, move it to that side for me.
- You have any weapons on this boat?
- No, sir.
- So, anybody in here?
- No, sir.
Hey! Hands, everybody let me see
your hands up, hands up, hands up!
Alright, I need everybody,
one by one, keep your hands up.
One by one, we're gonna come outside,
we're gonna stand back here.
One by one. One everybody else, sit
down.
One at a time, here's one coming.
Come on, one by one, everybody hands up.
I don't see a hands up. Hands!
Hands!
Manos! Manos!
- Women, got children too.
- Yep.
Hiding in the boat's cramped cabin,
are eight people, including three
children.
Next. Ladies.
Leave those down here for now.
Alright, sir. Kids, sit down here on
the chair. Ma'am, sit on the chair.
One of them is a young woman,
seven months pregnant.
People are out, everybody's out.
Does anybody here have proper
documentation to enter the US?
Do you have any visas that allow you
to come into the United States?
These passengers are all
undocumented migrants from Haiti,
smuggled via the Bahamas by the
two men in charge of the boat.
They may have originated their
journey in Haiti
but their last jump point to the
United States was freeport, Bahamas,
and they were just coming straight across.
With twelve people on a small boat
built for four,
the agents are concerned
about the extra weight.
Todd's requested assistance from a
larger rescue boat,
but it's still several miles away.
30 minutes. Coming right now,
bigger boat. Coast Guard.
The migrants are trying to escape
Haiti's poverty,
where 1.4 million people
are on the brink of starvation.
How old are you? Age?
- Do you speak Haitian?
- Yeah.
- How old is he?
- He's 16.
How old's this guy?
The youngest of the three children
is with his big brother.
Seven.
None of them have their parents with them.
- How are we looking on water?
- I think grab us a couple if you can.
That would be great.
When agents encounter migrants being
smuggled under such conditions,
especially when minors are involved,
their first responsibility is to make sure
everyone is healthy and safe.
That's the one I'm worried about
right now.
With temperatures now well over
100 degrees,
one traveler is showing
signs of heat stroke.
Right now our concern is
obviously these people, right.
They've been on their way
for who knows how long,
stuffed in this little cabin
with no air flow,
there's a lot of dehydration.
We have some unaccompanied minors
on this boat,
so now we've kind of shifted into a
humanitarian exercise,
where we don't actually
induce some medical emergency
just based on being out here
in the hot sun.
But as they wait for back-up
- The splashwell, it's filling up.
- It's filling up.
Todd notices the boat's taking on water.
We're definitely going to have to
keep an eye on it because it is low.
If you guys want to start making way
that way. Meet the 45 a little bit.
The agents decide to try to head
towards the coastguard vessel
but the engine won't start.
This is a tight spot for us right now.
With the boat in danger of sinking
and the passengers dehydrating,
an already difficult situation
is quickly becoming dangerous.
At Port Newark, officers Jason and Mike
are investigating a shipment from China,
listed on the manifest as marble.
Layer upon layer of more packing material,
but we don't think it's marble.
Intelligence suggests the crate
could contain fentanyl,
and the unusual method of packing
is adding to officers suspicions.
Do you think we could cut down this way
- and slide the whole section out?
- Yeah.
So far the contents have proven hard
to access,
so the officers decide to cut out a panel.
Trying to get through
all this packing material.
It's all wrapped up in this burlap.
Usually marble is huge sheets
of like four-by-eight.
And it's normally not in a crate like
this, they're all laid out in rows.
At the bottom of the crate they
eventually unearth something solid.
Well, it's definitely marble.
It's like a marble table, I'm
thinking, it's round.
Definitely solid.
But what we're concerned it might be
something on the sides
in the packing material.
While there is marble in the crate,
officers need to make sure there's
nothing hidden within the packaging.
We're using the drill to drill around
the sides inside the packing material
make sure there's no narcotics
in the packing material.
Eventually, after a thorough search
All clear.
the officers are satisfied that
this crate contains no contraband.
But with specific intelligence
about a fentanyl shipment arriving
from China,
and more containers due to arrive
today, their search continues.
Our job is to get past the unknown,
you know, nothing like
that will ever stop us.
We have the equipment, we have a
tool truck, that's what our job is.
Off the Florida coast, agents Kyle,
Mike and Todd
have discovered eight undocumented
Haitian migrants,
hidden in the cabin of a fishing boat.
Does anybody here have proper
documentation to enter the US?
Among them are three children and a
pregnant woman.
The overloaded boat is taking on water.
Splashwell looks like it's filling up.
And with temperatures at well over
100 degrees,
one passenger is already
suffering from heat exhaustion.
- If we transfer some, but not all
- Let's just put them all on.
You want to put them all over here?
Alright.
With the coast guard vessel still 30
minutes away,
the agents only option is to
transfer all the migrants
and traffickers over to their own boat.
Before we have a catastrophic incident
where this boat starts to sink,
they're going to be far safer
on this boat.
- The agents start with the woman
- Be careful.
Who's struggling the most
with the conditions onboard.
Do you have any weapons on you?
- She doesn't feel good.
- Aright, sit right here.
- Sit back, relax.
- I'm bringing the kid over next.
Alright, buddy.
Put that one on him real quick.
Thank you, buddy. Alright, you ready?
Got him, Todd?
- You're next, buddy.
- Ready?
Watch out, coming behind you,
the 18-year-old.
Wait.
He's the brother of the little kid,
this guy.
I patted him down, he's got
sunglasses in his front left pocket.
Go ahead up forward and have a seat.
Listen to me, it's very hot in
this metal, right?
Be very careful, it's very hot.
Alright, move forward.
Last of the migrants to board, is
the heavily pregnant woman.
- Okay. You ready?
- Yes.
Step, grab his hand first.
There you go, good job.
Stop, stop! Hand up, up, up!
Come here, stay right here,
hold on to that life-jacket.
- Is that everyone?
- Yeah, that's everyone, Todd.
Without the weight of 12 people on board,
the smuggling vessel is now stable.
Todd begins a slow crawl
towards the rescue boat
to get up a breeze
and cool the migrants down.
Todd right now our number one concern
is obviously health and safety.
We're ever vigilant for anything to
possibly happen
while these folks are on our boat.
These folks have dehydration setting in,
now we're just trying to monitor for
any health and safety concerns.
- After 15 minutes
- Quarter mile.
the rescue boat finally comes
into view.
I got three minors, two are unaccompanied
and I got a pregnant female.
They help you, okay?
You get over there, it's help okay?
This vessel will transfer the
migrants to a coast guard ship,
where they'll be assessed and interviewed.
Some may be sent straight back to
Haiti, some may be granted asylum.
Whether or not they get
repatriated from the cutter,
whether or not they get brought in
for processing,
that's determined by somebody
other than us.
Up, good job, excellent.
The smugglers will be taken back to
Florida,
where they'll be further investigated
and likely charged with human
trafficking offenses.
These are all their phones.
Except the smuggler.
I got the smuggler's phone.
Along with the smugglers' phones,
their vessel will be seized in evidence
to help build the prosecutors case.
If convicted, they could be facing
up to 20 years in prison.
Alright, all migrants and all
property are off the boat.
- Thank you very much.
- I'll see you on the next one.
On average, marine agents intercept
12,000 undocumented migrants each year,
mainly off the Florida coast.
Their first priority is the
preservation of life.
Everybody did exactly what
they were supposed to do.
We got these poor folks the aid they
needed.
All in all today was a good day.
We've got to go finish up
some seizure paperwork on this boat,
but we'll be back at it again tomorrow.
On the east coast of the US
a cruise ship carrying 5000
passengers has just come into port,
after a week-long cruise to the Bahamas.
There's a lot of people coming
through this terminal today.
Many of the passengers have
taken advantage
of the luxury shopping onboard this ship.
It's officer Jesus's job to spot those
who are liable for import duty.
At times passengers may not know
that they have to pay duty
when they return to the US,
they think because it's duty free
on the ship or overseas,
they do not have to pay duty here.
And then other passengers try to
avoid paying duty.
You never know what you're gonna find
when she start looking through them.
If a passenger fails to declare any
purchase over the duty-free limit,
they could face a fine,
or even prosecution.
One man carrying designer shopping
bags has caught Jesus's eye.
Any purchases made on the ship?
I did buy a watch and some cigarettes.
What would you say the total value
of the items are?
Man the watch was $2400.
The cigarettes were one-something.
- How many cartons do you have?
- Five.
Goods for personal use under $800
are exempt from duty,
but this man's watch purchase alone,
has already put him over by $1600.
- And this is all your stuff here?
- Yes.
I'm just going to do a quick inspection,
just review your items for duty purposes.
If you have to pay any duty on it,
you pay for it.
If you're good to go, you're good to go.
If you have all your items,
just follow me this way.
Suspecting that there's more in the
man's bag than he's letting on,
Jesus decides to carry out
a full search of his luggage.
Back in Florida
a storm is brewing off the coast
and causing large swells in Port
Lauderdale.
For agent Rob and his team,
it means there's little of interest
out at sea.
There's very few vessels out
there because of sea conditions.
We don't see any small boats out there,
we see a couple of yachts that are
transiting
but nothing that's coming
inbound from foreign.
For now, the agents are patrolling
the inland waterways
where there's no shortage of activity.
As they head toward port Everglades,
they spot a small pleasure boat in
distress.
Any rocks there? Any rocks?
There's rocks on my side, not here though.
- Okay.
- You're clear here.
The boat is carrying a family of three.
They got into trouble in the rough seas
before drifting into shallow waters
and getting buffeted against the rocks.
Officer, what happened is I
took the boat out.
I seem to have water in my fuel tank,
so my engine is not turning on
and I've just drifted.
- Did you call a tow company?
- I was in the process of doing that,
but I was hitting the rocks,
I figured I could call you could pull
me away.
Rob and his team move in to try and
tow the boat away from the rocks.
With the storm closing in,
they need to move quickly before the
swells worsen.
You got a fender on the other
side sir, against the rocks?
- No, I don't.
- Let's get a line on them.
If the rocks puncture the hull,
it could cause the boat to sink.
We're gonna pull you away,
because you're in danger with your
family right now, against the rocks.
We don't want you guys to be in danger.
Okay, we're gonna get you guys out.
- I appreciate that, thank you.
- Bring your engines up.
As well as the safety risks,
if it isn't moved soon the 30,000
dollar boat could be badly damaged.
Give me a line from the bow and the stern.
The agents tether the vessel to
theirs, ready for a tow.
- Am I gonna make it?
- Tie it off.
How are we looking back here?
Can you recover your anchor?
Tell me when you're good.
I'm working mine.
- Go ahead, make it off.
- Making it off.
Fantastic.
You're good. Leave it there.
Yeah, coming forward.
Rob cautiously leads the boat away
from the rocks.
Moving already, you're on the move.
- You have control, man.
- Thank you.
Once out of danger,
Rob heads to the nearest jetty.
- All lines good.
- Okay. Good.
But as they approach the landing,
he realizes that the water may not
be deep enough
for their patrol boat.
We're at 5 feet right now, that's my
main concern.
Can you nose in and maybe he get off?
I'll get him on the starboard side,
the wind is pushing me this way.
Rob must use his navigational skills
to avoid damaging his propellers.
I gotta watch my depths here.
Come down for a second, because
I can't see the distance there.
- How much room you got?
- Yeah, like 4 feet.
- I'm gonna bring you in, breaking.
- Perfect, Rob.
Alright, go ahead and kick my lines off.
That one's off. If they're safe
and we're good, let's go.
Have a good day.
With the mission accomplished,
the team heads back out on patrol.
In Florida, agents Mike, Kyle, Alex
and Fritz are heading out on patrol.
Look at the flag, means very little wind,
but also it's easier for the bad guys
to run,
because they get flat seas too
so they're going to be traveling faster
across from the Bahamas to here.
Today they're carrying out random
stop-searches of vessels,
hoping to catch smugglers in the act.
Five miles from the maritime boundary
- We should have a look at that.
- 11 o'clock.
the agents spots a fishing boat,
which is ringing alarm bells.
It looks like a vessel that fits our
stereotypical smuggling-type vessel,
it's older, it's a little beat-up.
There's a possibility that they've
done repairs to the deck of the boat.
Visible repairs to a boat could be a
sign that it's been modified
to create secret compartments
for hiding drugs.
The agents also notice it isn't
carrying fishing gear.
It has the possibility of having
narcotics or other contraband in it.
So we're going to take a look through
it. We'll see what we get.
He's coming down.
- Where are you coming from?
- Bimini.
- Bimini?
- Yes sir.
- Did you stop anywhere on your way?
- No sir.
You're good, you can stay at the helm.
The agents ask the driver for the
boat's paperwork.
- Thanks. Where are you headed to?
- Bradford Marina.
- It's here for repairs, now.
- Huh?
- It's here for repairs.
- You bringing it in?
I'm going to come over
and do a quick search of your vessel,
- if you don't mind?
- No problem.
Hold it there, Mike. Hold it.
- How are you doing today?
- Alright.
While Kyle and Mike remain on the
patrol boat to run a document check,
Fritz and Alex begin a search.
- What's inside that bag?
- Towels and clothes.
I'm going to move your bag here, okay?
Inside the cabin, there's a bag
similar to what's often used by
drug smugglers
.but all it contains is clothes.
- What's inside the cooler? Drinks?
- Yeah, just drinks.
Alex finds nothing suspicious.
- Fritz, we good?
- Yeah.
But just as the agents are about to
allow the man on his way,
the boat's records reveal a problem.
Hey Fritz, standby.
Hey, bud, are you the owner of the vessel?
- Do you own this boat?
- No sir.
Who's the owner?
The driver claims the boat is a
recent purchase made by his boss,
but the hull identification number
links it to a different owner.
Did he buy it from over
there or did he buy it in the US?
- I can't tell, he shows up in a boat.
- Okay.
Officers suspect it could have been
stolen to carry out a drug run.
Tell you what we are going do, sir,
we're going to head into Port
Everglades, alright?
And then we'll finish our inspection
in there, okay?
While Fritz and Alex remain onboard
the suspect boat,
to ensure the driver's compliance,
Kyle briefs a team of agents on land
to prepare for their arrival.
One person on board, no fishing
gear, he's coming from Bimini.
Somebody else is the owner,
they recently purchased the boat,
he's bringing it in for repairs,
good chance to be able to hide some
stuff down in the deck of the boat.
Once in port,
Kyle has requested a K-9 to search
the boat for narcotics.
It looks like a vessel that could fit
our stereotypical smuggling type vessel.
So we're going take it into Port
Lauderdale. Let's see what we get.
In New Jersey, officer Jesus
is searching the luggage
of a recently disembarked
cruise ship passenger.
Just going to place your items here.
- And you said you have your receipts?
- Yes.
The man has declared the purchase
of a watch worth 2400 dollars,
as well as some cigarettes.
- And this is the--
- The watch.
- Who is the watch for?
- My father?
But Officer Jesus suspects
he may have more.
If he does, he could be facing a
large fine.
Place the bag over here.
It'll probably be a little easier.
- Is this your bag?
- Yes.
- Everything inside belong to you?
- Yes.
The man said he bought five cartons
of cigarettes
but in fact he has eight.
Total value of goods, is that
these things and the cigarettes?
Anything you purchased, write it on that.
You said the 2400, the cigarettes,
just add it all up, put it on there.
And Jesus has only searched one his bags.
- Everything inside belong to you?
- Yes.
Anything sharp or could hurt me
as I'm inspecting it, no?
Once again, just do not reach inside
as I'm taking a quick look.
Who did you say was traveling with you?
- My family.
- Family?
In the second suitcase Jesus
discovers more purchases.
- Okay, what are these items?
- Shoes.
Did you list them on the declaration?
I did not.
Total value of the shoes altogether?
Five and two, so seven.
The two pairs of designer shoes
come to a further 700
dollars worth of taxable goods,
which the man failed to declare.
Once you're repacked, I'm going
to walk you over to the window
so that you can pay for the items.
Just in the future, you did declare
some of the items,
- you need to declare all the items.
- Okay.
In total, the big spending traveler
has made more than three
and half thousand dollars
worth of purchases on his cruise
and must pay 120 dollars in duty.
Jesus has decided to give him the
benefit of the doubt,
and not issue an additional penalty.
You're all set. Just next time just
declare everything.
You declared, you did the right thing,
but sometimes you're travelling
you forget.
Stay safe. Welcome back. Take care.
I've been working on cruise ships
for a long time,
so I know people tend to
declare some stuff,
other times they're in a rush, pack,
have fun, whatever it may be
and they forget to declare everything.
I didn't feel like he was being dishonest.
Just off the coast of Florida,
agent Kyle has ordered the driver of
a boat coming in from the bahamas,
to divert to a docking station
at Port Lauderdale.
One person on board, no fishing
gear, he's coming from Bimini.
Somebody else is the owner, they
recently purchased the boat,
he's bringing it in for repairs,
some good chance to be able to hide
stuff down in the deck of the boat.
The driver claims the boat belongs
to his boss,
but a check of the identification
number shows
it's registered to someone else.
It looks like a vessel that fit our
stereotypical smuggling type vessel.
The agents suspect it's been stolen
to smuggle drugs.
We can't search every part of that boat.
There's parts of it that we can't access
that has the possibility of having
narcotics or other contraband in it.
Our next steps are to take this boat
back to the dock,
so we can move around the boat freely and
it also allows us to get a canine
over here to do an inspection on the boat.
Fritz and Alex have remained on the
suspect vessel
to make sure the driver complies.
Gentleman is driving the boat while
the agents are behind him,
they're keeping the threat in front
of them, which is good.
We're gonna let him drive his own boat in,
park his own vessel and do our inspection.
If he's good, on his way.
The two boats make their approach
towards Port Lauderdale.
Todd, we're just on the
other side of the bridge.
With Fritz, Alex and the driver
mooring up first
followed by the patrol boat.
Now tethered to dry land, a K9 is deployed
to determine if there are narcotics
on the suspect boat.
There might be something on the
deck too, by the way.
Before long the dog alerts to a
compartment below the wheel.
That's it.
See the container underneath
the helm station.
- You got weed on the boat?
- No sir.
I smoked a little before I left,
that's the container I had it in.
- Where's the container you had it in?
- Below the wheel.
- Right below the wheel?
- Yes sir.
This?
Kyle double-checks the container.
Yeah, nothing in it, it's empty.
Although the man has admitted to
smoking weed,
he doesn't have any in his possession,
so he is not committing an offense.
It's water, nothing.
The rest of the boat is also clean
and further checks have revealed
it isn't stolen.
The new owner simply hasn't
updated the registration yet.
Here's your paperwork,
your passport's in there.
Thank you very much.
Have a good day.
Stay safe out there.
Alright, man, be careful.
The man is free to continue his journey
and get his boss's boat repaired,
before returning to Bimini.
Have a good day.