COSTA RICAN MAN SENTENCED IN COCAINE TRAFFICKING CASE

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Mainor Salazar Montero, 35, of Costa Rica, was sentenced to 63 months incarceration by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

According to court records, on November 26, 2020, the United States Coast Guard intercepted a vessel in international waters approximately 115 nautical miles from Isla Malpelo, Colombia. The vessel had no flag flown nor registration documents and was therefore determined to be a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. On board the vessel were multiple fuel canisters and 333 kilograms of cocaine. Also on board were Salazar-Montero, Eleuterio Murillo Gomez and Randar Vasquez Munoz. Murillo Gomez and Vasquez Munoz also pleaded guilty to cocaine conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on October 11, 2024.

The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.