CINCINNATI—On Tuesday, June 15, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed in Cincinnati seized a shipment containing approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside decorative blankets. The narcotics were headed to a residence in West Point, GA, and could have had a street value of up to $627,200.
CBP inspected the package after Narcotics Detector Dog “Bico” alerted to a shipment while inspecting freight originating from Guadalajara, Mexico. After they opened the box, officers found four blankets wrapped around what appeared to be a white powder. Tests identified the powder as methamphetamine.
“Our officers excel at connecting the dots and identifying and disrupting transnational networks of all kinds of illicit trade, whether it be intellectual property rights infringements, narcotics or agriculture violations, or enforcing numerous partner agencies’ regulations,” said Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie. “Although bad actors continue to try to get their dangerous goods through our borders, our officers are there to stop narcotics like these from reaching our citizens.”
"Protecting the American people is what the men and women of CBP do best! CBP’s layered enforcement strategy ensures that our country and our local communities are safe,” stated LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP Director of Field Operation, Chicago.
Methamphetamine is a dangerous and highly addictive stimulant and its abuse can lead to aggression, psychosis, convulsions, stroke, and death. Methamphetamine abuse is on the rise in the U.S.—from 2017 to 2019, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) domestic seizures of methamphetamine increased 127 percent, and DEA arrests related to methamphetamine rose nearly 20 percent. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that during 2015-2018, an estimated 1.6 million U.S. adults reported abusing the drug.
CBP conducts operations at ports of entry throughout the United States, and regularly screens arriving international passengers and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted or prohibited products. CBP strives to serve as the premier law enforcement agency enhancing the Nation’s safety, security, and prosperity through collaboration, innovation, and integration.
Follow Cincinnati CBP on Twitter @CBPChicago and @DFOChicago.