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Five Plead Guilty in South Florida Cocaine Importation Case

Five defendants admitted to conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine as part of a drug trafficking organization, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 26, 2026, 6:23 p.m. ETWritten Aug 29, 2026, 9:35 a.m. ET
Five people guilty to conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine, the reported. The defendants are Andy Gabriel Mercedes-Hernandez, 32; Jesus Alberto Salcedo-Perez, 32; Keisy Estibet Peguero, 38; Enmanuel Amauris Rivera-Cabrera, 32; and Mario Joel Rijo-Jimenez, 46, according to NBC Miami. The government alleged the defendants participated in a drug trafficking organization that used sport fishing vessels to transport multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine, importing over 3,500 kilograms and over $31 million worth of cocaine, NBC Miami reported. The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Task Force. Each defendant faces . Sentencing dates have not been announced.

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  1. Version 129 Aug 2026, 13:35current

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