Air and Marine Operations Interdicts Vessel Carrying 188 Kilos of Cocaine - Two Defendants Charged Federally

MIAMI - Two Bahamian nationals have been charged by criminal complaint with attempting to smuggle approximately 188 kilograms of cocaine into the United States via a water vessel.

According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 5 at approximately 11 a.m., Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Marine Interdiction agents from the Fort Lauderdale and Miami Marine Units were notified by the Air and Marine Operations Center (AMOC) of a suspicious vessel enroute to the Port Everglades Inlet in the Southern District of Florida. Agents responded and launched multiple Coastal Interceptor Vessels (CIV) to stop the approaching vessel. Using constant position, course, and speed updates from the AMOC, they were able to intercept a Contender Center Console vessel with Alfred Lynton Laing and Runo Traveeno Laing, both of the Bahamas, on board approximately four nautical miles from Hillsboro Inlet. The vessel was escorted to a nearby harbor for a thorough and safe inspection. During the inspection, Marine Interdiction agents discovered approximately 188 kilograms of individually wrapped bricks of cocaine hidden within the vessel.

Alfred and Runo Laing are scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 21 at 11 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, AMO Executive Director Andres "Andy" Blanco, and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.

AMO and DEA investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nardia Haye is prosecuting it.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-6004.

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