Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, Vernon Foret, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami Field Office, and Robert L. Crowder, Sheriff, Martin County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), announce the seizure of 275 kilograms of cocaine and the arrest of Wayde Andrew Collins, 35, of Abaco, Bahamas. Collins had his first appearance in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch, Jr.

The complaint charges Collins with aiding and abetting the importation of cocaine into the U.S., in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 952 and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.

According to the complaint affidavit filed in court, on December 1, 2011, law enforcement discovered approximately 275 kilograms of cocaine aboard a large red tow boat called SORREL. The tow boat was docked at the Sail Fish Marina in Stuart, Florida.

If convicted, Collins faces a minimum sentence of ten years to life in prison.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of DEA, ICE-HSI, CBP and MCSO for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaniek Maynard.

A complaint is merely an accusation and the defendant is assumed innocent until proven guilty.

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A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.