ATLANTA – U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agriculture Specialists and Officers working at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) seized just under three pounds of cocaine hidden in decorative figurines found in a traveler bags who arrived on a flight from Toncontin, Honduras.
3 pounds of Cocaine in these figurines
While conducting roving operations Tuesday evening, CBP Agriculture Specialist at ATL airport referred a 24-year-old woman for a further inspection. During an examination of the traveler’s baggage, a specialist identified three metal decorative figurines requiring further examination. A specialist using Non-Intrusive Inspection equipment was able to take an X-ray image of the figurines that revealed anomalies. A CBP officer opened up the figurines exposing a white-powdery substance inside. The substance field-tested positive for the properties of cocaine.
“Our CBP Agriculture Specialist and Officers are on the front line stopping prohibited items from reaching the U.S. and that includes narcotics,” Said Carey Davis Atlanta CBP Area Port Director. “We take every opportunity to apply our training and experience to intercept dangerous drugs before they reach our communities.”
The cocaine found hidden inside the decorative art pieces weighed a total of 2.84 pounds and had an estimated street value of approximately $40K.
The narcotics were seized and the alleged smuggler was immediately returned back to her home country.
3 pounds of cocaine in these figurines
CBP Agriculture Specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. On a typical day nationally, they inspect more than 1 million people as well as air, land and sea cargo imported to the United States, and intercept 4,638 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products, including agriculture pests and diseases.
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. On a typical day, CBP seized over 5,000 pounds of drugs.