DEC 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 12

AROUND THE COUNTRY
CABO ROJO, PUERTO RICO
US Customs Agent Michel Maceda was shot and killed while conducting
a narcotics operation 12 miles southwest of Puerto Rico.
By Holly Matkin and Sandy Malone
CABO ROJO, PUERTO RICO – U.S.
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) Air and Marine Operations
Marine Interdiction Agent
Michel Maceda was murdered in the
line of duty on Thursday November
17th, during a shootout with alleged
drug smugglers.
The confrontation occurred approximately
14 miles off the southwest
coast of the island of Puerto
Rico, near Cabo Rojo, at approximately
8 a.m. on Nov. 17, 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.
The encounter took place along
the Mona Passage, a major corridor
for smugglers running cocaine from
South America, the Associated Press
reported.
The three agents were shot during
an exchange of gunfire with two
suspects who were aboard the alleged
smuggling vessel, the agency
said. One of the suspects was killed
in the gunfight.
The second suspect was arrested.
The three wounded CBP agents
were airlifted to hospitals in Puerto
Rico, where one agent was pronounced
dead.
“An agent that was transported
directly to a hospital in Mayagüez…
they have confirmed he has passed
away,” said CBP Spokesperson Jeffrey
Quinones, according to CNN.
The deceased agent was later
identified as Michel Maceda.
Puerto Rico Medical Services
Administration Medical Director
Israel Ayala said on Thursday night
that one of the surviving wounded
agents remained in critical condition,
and the other was in stable
condition, CNN reported.
“One of them was immediately
admitted to the stabilization unit
and is being treated by emergency
physicians and trauma surgeons,”
Ayala said. “Meanwhile, the other
agent is in an area that we call minor
surgery and is also being evaluated
and treated by the emergency
room and trauma services.”
The FBI is leading the ongoing investigation
into the deadly shootout,
the Associated Press reported.
Quinones said investigators are
working to determine where the
boat was coming from, as well as
the nationalities of its passengers.
“These are brave members of our
Air and Marine Operations within
U.S. Customs and Border Protection,”
Homeland Security Secretary
Alejandro Mayorkas told a Senate
committee after the gun battle, according
to the Associated Press. “So,
the difficulty of this job cannot be
compared to the difficulty that our
front line personnel face every day.
Their bravery and selfless service
AGENT MICHEL MACEDA
should be recognized.”
Later the same morning, a second
U.S. marine interdiction team intercepted
another nearby smuggling
vessel and arrested two suspects
they found on board, the Associated
Press reported.
Investigators also seized multiple
firearms and other contraband
from the boat. The CBP said both
suspects apprehended on the vessel
are U.S. citizens.
Our thoughts and prayers are with
the family of U.S. Department of
Homeland Security Customs and
Border Protection Air and Marine
Operations Marine Interdiction
Agent Michel Maceda, both blood
and blue. Thank you for your service.
Agent Michel Maceda, your life
mattered.
16 The BLUES The BLUES 17