DEA and the Police in the Caribbean

DEA and the Police in the Caribbean, Drugs, Violence. When most people imagine the Caribbean, they think of turquoise waters, white sand beaches, rum cocktails, and vibrant island music. The idea of violent crime, drugs, and federal law enforcement operations rarely comes to mind. But behind the postcard-perfect scenery, the Caribbean plays a major role in the global drug trade, and with it, comes a dangerous underworld of money, guns, and organized crime. In the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.

Retired DEA Supervisory Special Agent Jack McFarland knows this world all too well. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast interview, available for free on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and more podcast platforms.

Jack spent over three decades in the trenches with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). From his early days as a football coach and teacher to chasing drug traffickers through the Caribbean, his story reflects the global reach of America’s drug war, and the brave men and women fighting it on the front lines. Now retired and a keynote speaker, Jack shares stories from his work with the DEA, including international interdiction operations, violent shootouts, and the complex partnership between the DEA and the police in the Caribbean. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .

A Hidden Drug Highway in Paradise. DEA and the Police in the Caribbean, Drugs, Violence.

“The Caribbean is beautiful, but it’s also a major hub in the global drug trade,” Jack said during a recent appearance on the Law Enforcement Talk Podcast, available on Apple, Spotify, and major TV and podcast platforms.

Much of the Caribbean lies along major smuggling routes between South America and the United States. Narcotics such as cocaine and heroin often move by sea, carried in everything from high-speed boats to drug submarines. Once in the Caribbean, the drugs are repackaged and rerouted, often with the help of armed criminal groups. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

As a Supervisory Special Agent with the DEA's Caribbean Division, Jack helped lead operations that intercepted everything from cartel-run aircraft to high-seas smuggling vessels. One of the division’s most notable seizures came on March 31, 2014, when the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) intercepted a Zodiac-type vessel off Dorado, Puerto Rico.

On board? Two Venezuelan nationals and 1,774 kilograms of cocaine.

“These arrests are a clear indication of the continued success of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “This is just another example of the fine work our state and federal law enforcement partners accomplish every day.”

When Interdiction Turns Violent. DEA and the Police in the Caribbean, Drugs, Violence.

Not all operations end smoothly. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.

On November 17, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents engaged in a shootout while trying to intercept a suspicious vessel near Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. As agents approached, a gun battle broke out, leaving one DEA partner agent dead, others wounded, and two U.S. citizens arrested after over 1,300 kilograms of cocaine were recovered.

It's a grim reminder that the fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean isn't just about seizures, it's a deadly, high-stakes war against violent criminals.

The Broader Impact of Crime in the Caribbean

Many are shocked to learn that the Caribbean is one of the most violent regions in the Americas. Fueled by transnational gangs, economic struggles, and a deterioration of social struct