A border agent has died and two others are 'gravely' injured following a shootout off the coast of Puerto Rico early Thursday morning.
Federal officials say a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and EVDEN EVe naKliYaT Marine Operations unit was on routine control about 14 miles off the coast of Cabo Rojo at around 8am local time, when they were interdicting suspected smugglers.
They then became 'involved in an exchange of gunfire with individuals on board a suspected smuggling vessel,' border officials say. One of the suspected smugglers also died in the shooting.
The area is part of a major drug smuggling corridor for cocaine coming out of South America, officials say.
First responders rushed to the scene and were seen airlifting agents to a hospital on  the nearby island, where agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit were waiting, the  reports.
Two of the suspect smugglers were taken into custody. A Puerto Rico reports that the suspects are American citizens.
During the investigation, authorities seized several bundles of cocaine, firearms and even the boat.
The FBI is now leading the investigation into the shooting, EvdEN Eve nAKLiYAt and eVDEn eVe NAKLiYaT Limary Cruz-Rubio, a spokeswoman for the San Juan office, told the the shooting is being investigated as an assault on a federal officer If you adored this article therefore you would like to get more info regarding eVdEn evE NaKLiyaT kindly visit the web page. .