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  4. Authorities Seize Second Significant Cocaine Load in One Week at Port of Wilmington, DE

Authorities Seize Second Significant Cocaine Load in One Week at Port of Wilmington, DE

Release Date
Thu, 08/30/2018

WILMINGTON, Del. – For the second time in seven days, authorities seized a significant cocaine load at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware, this one more than 100 pounds Wednesday.

Cocaine was concealed inside the corrugated bottoms of pineapple cases.
The cocaine was concealed inside the
corrugated bottoms of pineapple cases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Coast Guard and Delaware National Guard Counter-Drug Taskforce targeted a shipment similar to the August 22 cocaine seizure of 99 pounds.  CBP officers devanned the shipment of pineapples from Costa Rica, and similarly to last week’s seizure, a Wilmington Police Department narcotics detector dog alerted to pallets of pineapple cases.

CBP officers examined the cases and discovered strips of vacuum-sealed cocaine packages concealed similarly to the August 22 load, inside the corrugated bottom flaps of the cardboard boxes.

The multi-agency team discovered 244 packages of cocaine with a combined weight of more than 100 pounds and a street value of more than $3 million.

No arrests have been made.

“This significant narcotics seizure illustrates the importance of learning from experience and the value of collaboration among partners with a shared interest in helping keep our families and our communities safe,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore.  “Customs and Border Protection and our federal, state, and local partners will remain steadfast in our commitment to intercepting dangerous drugs at our nation’s borders.”

The Wilmington Police Department contributed multiple canine units to both seizures.

More than 100 pounds of cocaine was discovered in a pineapple shipment from Costa Rica.
Authorities discovered more than 100 pounds
of cocaine in a pineapple shipment from
Costa Rica.

“This case illustrates how joint investigative effort and cooperation between agencies directly affects the safety and security of our local communities,” said Capt. Kurt Clarke, deputy commander, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia. “Through coordinated team efforts we will continue to work together to keep drugs out of our ports and off of our streets.”

CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations.  CBP officers use a variety of techniques to intercept narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture, counterfeit goods, and other illicit products, and to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong.  Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.

Read what CBP achieved on a typical day during 2017, or by visiting https://www.cbp.gov/.

Inquiries to the U.S. Coast Guard:
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
Office: (609) 813-3888
After Hours: (757) 434-6043

Inquiries to the Wilmington Police Department:
Master Sergeant Christopher Vitale, Canine Supervisor
(302) 576-3934

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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021