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Coast Guard Thwarts Cocaine Smuggling: Boat Owner and Captain Arraigned in Miami on Federal Charges

Men charged in Miami for smuggling 742kg of cocaine from DR. Could face life in prison.

byEditorial Staff

November 18, 2025, 3:56 PM

Seal of the US Department of Justice centered over the stripes and stars of the American flag.

The official seal of the U.S. Department of Justice placed against the American flag. By Mehaniq / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Jeffry Dominguez and Luis Antonio Garcia Rosario were arraigned in Miami on federal charges for a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation.

The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted their vessel, finding approximately 742 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment.

Both men face charges of possession and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, each carrying a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

Laws and Precedent

The defendants face federal charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, stemming from an alleged large-scale cocaine trafficking operation intercepted in U.S. waters. These charges, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, carry a maximum penalty of life in federal prison for each count, reflecting the severe penalties under federal drug trafficking laws for smuggling illicit substances into the United States.

Two men, identified as boat owner Jeffry Dominguez, 34, and captain Luis Antonio Garcia Rosario, 37, were arraigned in Miami on September 26 on federal charges related to a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation. The charges stem from an alleged plot to transport hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from the Dominican Republic into Miami, which was thwarted by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Details of the Interception

According to court documents, Dominguez and Garcia Rosario allegedly conspired between August 24 and 28 to smuggle the illicit drugs. Their scheme was intercepted on August 29, 2025, when the U.S. Coast Guard stopped their 44-foot vessel as it entered U.S. waters.

During a boarding operation, law enforcement officers identified Dominguez, the vessel’s registered owner, and Garcia Rosario. A subsequent search of the boat uncovered a hidden compartment containing 741 packages, which held approximately 742 kilograms of cocaine.

Charges and Potential Penalties

Both men face charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, each defendant could face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison for each charge.

Luis Antonio Garcia Rosario, a Dominican national, also faces potential removal from the United States if found guilty. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Field Division and the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Official Announcements

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, DEA Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, and Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony jointly announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin McCormack is leading the prosecution of the case, which underscores ongoing efforts to combat international drug smuggling into the U.S.