United States v. Acosta Valdez

OPINION & ORDER

PEREZ-GIMENEZ, District Judge.

Today the Court revisits for the third time defendants’ motion to suppress the evidence seized at their yawl on May 4, 1998. At issue is whether the Customs officers’ failed to comply with the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (hereinafter referred to as “MDLEA”), 46 U.S.C.App. § 1903. As stated in this Court’s opinion and order of May 20, 1999, since defendants’ vessel was not a “vessel of the United States” as defined in 46 U.S.CApp. § 1903(b), and defendants themselves were neither citizens nor resident aliens of the United States at the time of…