FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – U.S. Customs and Protection (CBP) officers working at Port Everglades seized approximately 46.5 pounds of cocaine concealed within boxes of oranges arriving from the Dominican Republic over the weekend. The estimated street value of the drugs is hundreds of thousands of dollars.
CBP officers with the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) detected anomalies while examining a container. A CBP K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drugs and CBP officers discovered a white, powdery substance within multiple boxes. CBP seized 46.5 pounds of cocaine.
The substance field-tested positive for cocaine and evidence has been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“We are extremely proud of CBP’s highly-trained and dedicated workforce continually adapting to respond to emerging threats and rapidly changing conditions,” said Acting Port Director Stephen Silvestri. “CBP teams work tirelessly to detect illicit trafficking of people, drugs, weapons and currency while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”
CBP’s Office of Field Operations in Florida
CBP is the lead agency for preventing drug trafficking through airports, seaports, and land ports of entry and plays a significant role in the national drug control strategy. On a typical day in Fiscal Year 2018, CBP seized over 4,650 pounds of drugs. As a result of CBP’s all-threats mission, CBP officers frequently interdict drug-smuggling attempts and locate hidden contraband such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana.
As America’s unified border agency, CBP plays a critical role in preventing illicit drugs from reaching communities in South Florida and across the country. CBP leverages targeting and intelligence-driven strategies—working in close coordination with a network of law enforcement partners as part of a multi-layered, risk-based approach to enhance the security of our borders.
CBP’s Office of Field Operations in Florida includes more than 2,700 front-line federal officers, agricultural specialists, trade and mission support personnel securing over 1,200 miles of the coastal border and providing international travel and trade facilitation. The Miami Field Office encompasses five ports that stretch over 313 miles of Florida coastline, within which there are five seaports, including the top two cruise ship ports in the world; and nine airports, with Miami International Airport (MIA) ranking as the second busiest international airport among U.S. airports.
The Tampa Field Office encompasses the Area Ports of Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Both Field Offices also provide support to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Associate Chief Counsel, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the South Florida Federal Executive Board, and numerous other governmental agencies.
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