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  4. Dulles CBP Continues Harvesting Illegal Marijuana Shipments Destined to Europe

Dulles CBP Continues Harvesting Illegal Marijuana Shipments Destined to Europe

Release Date
Thu, 01/23/2020

CBP Officers have seized more than 20 pounds of marijuana so far in January

STERLING, Va. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers continue to seize bulk shipments of marijuana being mailed to Europe through Washington Dulles International Airport.

CBP officers seized nearly 14 pounds of marijuana in outbound mail shipments near Washington Dulles International Airport January 17, 2020.
CBP officers seized nine parcels weighing a
combined 6 pounds, 6 ounces of marijuana
in one day January 19, 2020.

Since Friday, CBP officers have seized 13.5 pounds of marijuana in 14 mail parcels. All parcels originated in California and were destined to the Netherlands and Holland. Additionally, CBP officers seized CBD oil being mailed from Hawaii to Belgium, and intercepted a traveler in possession of CBD oil and hemp pills.

The combined marijuana has a street value of about $11,000.

  • On Friday, CBP officers seized four outbound parcels that contained a combined six pounds, nine ounces of marijuana.
     
  • On Saturday, CBP officers seized a little more than nine ounces of marijuana and 310 grams of CBD oil in separate parcels.
     
  • On Sunday, CBP officers seized a combined six pounds, six ounces of marijuana in nine outbound parcels.
     
  • On Monday, CBP officers inspected a U.S. citizen male who arrived on a flight from Panama. In his possession, officers discovered 75 grams of CBD oil and 20 hemp pills. The traveler was assessed a $1,000 civil penalty because the traveler was warned after he was found in possession of CBD oil during a previous CBP inspection. No criminal charges were filed and CBP released the man.

Each mail parcel was manifested as something else, such as handbags, handbooks, adult toys, toy truck, sweaters, jogger pants and sweatshirts.

CBP officers seized nearly 14 pounds of marijuana in outbound mail shipments near Washington Dulles International Airport January 17, 2020.
CBP officers found these tins of
marijuana destined to Europe.

“The fact that all of the parcels were manifested as something legitimate means the senders knew that shipping bulk marijuana parcels overseas is illegal,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in Baltimore. “Customs and Border Protection officers remain steadfast in our commitment to disrupting narcotics smuggling attempts when we encounter them at our international ports of entry.”

January has been a busy month of marijuana mail seizures for CBP at Dulles airport. On January 11, CBP narcotics detector dog Ginna detected four parcels of marijuana that weighed a combined 3,045.9 grams, or a little more than 6 pounds, 11 ounces.

CBP officers screen international travelers and cargo and search for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality. 

CBP seized an average of 4,657 pounds of illicit narcotics every day during 2018 across the United States. Learn about what CBP accomplished during "A Typical Day" in 2018.

Learn more about CBP at 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