Man Caught Hiding 500lbs Cocaine in LA

Ceasar Tubay Gelacio Jr., a 43-year-old Philippine national, was charged in Los Angeles after U.S. authorities said they found 227 kilograms, or about 500 pounds, of cocaine aboard the oil tanker Aquatravesia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said on May 22 that the ship had come from Ecuador and was headed toward El Segundo when law enforcement intervened. Prosecutors said the cocaine was intended for delivery to a Mexican drug cartel. Gelacio was arrested on May 21 and charged by federal criminal complaint with importation of a controlled substance. ### How did the cocaine end up on an oil tanker headed for Southern California? The Justice Department said the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Aquatravesia had departed Ecuador and was inbound to the United States carrying cocaine that Gelacio allegedly received in Ecuador. Prosecutors said the narcotics were to be passed to another party while the vessel traveled past Mexico. (justice.gov) The ship’s last port of call was Ecuador, according to the complaint described by prosecutors. Maritime Executive, citing the U.S. Attorney’s Office, reported the tanker left Ecuador on May 8 and was northbound when the drugs were discovered. ### Where was the cocaine found on the vessel? Crew members found numerous packages hidden in the ship’s garbage room, according to the U.S. (justice.gov) Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said the captain interviewed the crew after the discovery and determined Gelacio possessed the drugs, then moved the packages to a separate secured room on board. Federal authorities later boarded the tanker after directing it to the combined Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach area. The Justice Department said the vessel anchored there on May 21, and officers recovered about 227 kilograms of cocaine during the boarding. ### What did prosecutors say the handoff plan was? (justice.gov) The affidavit described by prosecutors said small naval craft carrying armed cartel members were expected to meet the tanker in Mexican waters about 80 nautical miles from shore on the night of May 14 and the early morning of May 15. If the drugs were not delivered then, additional craft would be waiting to board the tanker and recover the shipment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. (justice.gov) The captain also told authorities he believed the vessel received radio calls from cartel members attempting to hail it before a possible boarding or takeover, prosecutors said. KTLA reported that federal authorities described the boats as armed and said the calls came before law enforcement redirected the ship toward Los Angeles-Long Beach. (justice.gov) ### Which agencies were involved in the seizure? The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the case, and Maritime Executive reported that Homeland Security worked with the U.S. Coast Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the seizure and arrest. A detection canine was used to confirm the presence of narcotics and search the vessel, that report said. (justice.gov) Federal authorities valued the cocaine at about $6.4 million, according to Maritime Executive’s account of the seizure. The Justice Department release did not list a street-value estimate, but it did identify the quantity as 227 kilograms. ### What charges does Gelacio face now? Gelacio is charged by criminal complaint with importation of a controlled substance, the Justice Department said. (justice.gov) Prosecutors said a complaint contains allegations and that a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Gelacio was scheduled to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on May 22. Maritime Executive, citing federal authorities, said a conviction on the charged offense would carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life. (justice.gov)