ARREST OF POLICE OF PUERTO RICO OFFICER

On February 27, 2008 , FBI Agents arrested Police of Puerto Rico officer Ricardo Rivera-Astacio, age 28, for allegedly importing approximately 79 kilograms of cocaine to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico .

On February 6 and 7, 2008, Rivera-Astacio was seen by FBI Agents in possession of a 25 foot boat with the name “Arena del Mar.” On yet another day, Rivera-Astacio and other individuals were seen believed to be altering the interior of the vessel. The vessel was then taken by Rivera-Astacio to a marina in Joyuda, Puerto Rico .

On February 16, 2008 , law enforcement officers observed Rivera-Astacio depart from the marina in Joyuda, Puerto Rico . On February 19, 2008 , the U.S. Customs Border Patrol and the FBI conducted an interdiction on the vessel “Arena del Mar,” which was seen aground with no occupants on a beach on the Island of Mona . During the interdiction, Rivera-Astacio identified himself as the captain of the vessel as well as a police officer with the Police of Puerto Rico. Rivera-Astacio explained he had traveled to the Dominican Republic to pick up a drug shipment which had been placed in a hidden compartment inside the vessel.

Upon his return to Puerto Rico , the boat ruptured a gasoline line near the Island of Mona and Rivera-Astacio decided to run the vessel aground. Rivera-Astacio became scared and tossed the cocaine which was in two large black duffle bags into the ocean.

On February 21, 2008 , FBI and U.S. Border Patrol Agents returned to the Island of Mona where the vessel, “Arena del Mar” had been found to conduct a search. During the search, the Agents found in a thick brush approximately 100 feet from where the vessel had been run aground, two large black duffle bags which contained approximately 79 kilograms of cocaine.

Rivera-Astacio is a uniformed police officer assigned to District Precinct 166 in San Juan , Puerto Rico . Rivera-Astacio is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo , Puerto and is scheduled to have his Detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López on March 3, 2008 .

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of any guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.