St. Croix, VI – A brazen attempt to smuggle a massive quantity of cocaine in the eastern Pacific Ocean has been foiled by the United States Coast Guard. Eliecer Pineda Torres, 52, of Ecuador, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on November 15, 2021, while on routine patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the United States Coast Guard Cutter HAMILTON spotted a 52’ low-profile vessel approximately 77 nautical miles north of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. The unnamed vessel, outfitted with three outboard engines, had no flag flown or registration number.
Onboard the vessel were individuals later identified as Luis Rodriguez, Eliecer Pineda Torres, Carlos Benitez Estupinan and Anthony Cuero Garcia. Neither individual claimed to be master nor nationality of the vessel thereby making the vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. During an inspection of the vessel, USCG crew members found approximately 43 bales of suspected cocaine.
A field tests was conducted which yielded positive results for the presence of cocaine. The total weight for the suspected cocaine was approximately 1,298 kilograms. A Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory analysis later concluded that the suspected substance tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride.
The case is a significant blow to the international cocaine trade, which has plagued the US Virgin Islands for years. The US Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and Drug Enforcement Administration worked together to investigate the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
Torres faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years of imprisonment and a maximum of life, plus deportation. A federal District Court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The sentencing for Torres has been scheduled for April 14, 2023.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
We will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, residents of the US Virgin Islands can rest assured that law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to keep their communities safe from the scourge of cocaine trafficking.
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Key Facts
- State: Virgin Islands
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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