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  4. 229 Pounds of DMT Seized by CBP in Louisville in Six Days

229 Pounds of DMT Seized by CBP in Louisville in Six Days

Release Date
Wed, 01/13/2021

LOUISVILLE, Ky—From January 6 to 13, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville intercepted 10 shipments, all arriving from Peru, which contained the dangerous schedule I controlled substance Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).DMT

CBP officers detained all of the shipments and inspected them to determine the admissibility of its contents in accordance with CBP regulations. All of the shipments were mis-manifested, and the DMT was concealed in packages and bottles. Some of the parcels were going to separate overseas locations with three going to Spain, and other shipments going to Italy and Hong Kong. However, overseas locations were not the only destination for these packages. Four of the parcels were headed to residential addresses in the U. S. with one shipment alone concealing 115 pounds of DMT.

“Our officers are committed to keeping our country and communities safe from illegal and dangerous drugs,” said Thomas Mahn, Port Director-Louisville. “I commend our officers for the work they do every day to make the world a safer place.”

According to a DEA document, DMT is used for its psychoactive effects. The intense effects and short duration of action are attractive to individuals who want the psychedelic experience but do not choose to experience the mind altering perceptions over an extended period of time as occurs with other hallucinogens, like LSD. The history of human experience with DMT probably goes back several hundred years since DMT usage is associated with a number of religious practices and rituals. As a naturally occurring substance in many species of plants, DMT is present in a number of South American snuffs and brewed concoctions. In addition, DMT can be produced synthetically. Like other hallucinogens, Internet sales and distribution have served as the source of drug supply in this country. According to the National Forensic Laboratory Information. DMT is generally smoked or consumed orally in brews.

CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations.  Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. Learn more about CBP at www.CBP.gov.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021