CINCINNATI—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers work alongside their canine partners each night with a common goal—to find illegal narcotics entering the United States concealed inside imported shipments.
On August 5, Narcotic Detector Dog Betty alerted to a shipment of food preservatives while searching incoming freight from Mexico. A closer exam showed a liquid substance inside a large bucket. The liquid substance tested positive for methamphetamine, a schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. The bucket along with the liquid meth inside had a total weight of over 43 pounds. The shipment was headed to a residence in Getafe, Spain.
“Significant loads of methamphetamine like this one continues to be stopped by our officers. The officers and agriculture specialist in Cincinnati stand vigilant while international trade continues to increase,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations, Chicago Field Office. “Substances like methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin destabilize communities and it is our job to stop the flow of these illegal narcotic shipments.”
Methamphetamine is one of the most commonly misused stimulants in the world and is the drug that most contributes to violent crime in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.6 million people reported using methamphetamine in 2016. It is highly addictive, and its abuse can lead to death from stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ failures caused by overheating.
Follow CBP on Twitter @CBPChicago and @DFOChicago. Visit CBP’s YouTube channel to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.