3 U.S. Customs Agents Shot, Wounded Off Coast Of Puerto Rico

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the agents were airlifted to a trauma center after exchanging gunfire with suspected smugglers.

Three U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have been wounded after exchanging gunfire with people “on board a suspected smuggling vessel” off the coast of Puerto Rico, officials said Thursday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the agents suffered various gunshot wounds during the incident that happened around 8 a.m. Thursday. It happened about 144 miles off the coast of Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico.

The agency said the agents were being airlifted to the Puerto Rico Trauma Center and an investigation is underway.