SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) field operations officers seized Sunday 222 pounds (100.5 Kilos) of cocaine inside a duffle bag concealed inside a container arriving from Caucedo, Dominican Republic. The estimated value of the seized contraband is $2.8 million.
90 cocaine bricks with distinct markings
CBP field operations officers conducting an inspection of containers on board the vessel M/V Columba Voyage, found 3 carry-on bags containing 90 brick shaped objects inside one of the containers. A field-test of one bricks resulted positive for cocaine.
“International criminal organizations seek to use the supply chain as a means to conceal and move illicit narcotics,” said Marcelino Borges, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. “CBP can work with the trade community to strengthen their security implementing best practices to prevent incidents like this to happen.”
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents assumed custody of the seized contraband for further investigation.
CBP uses sophisticated methods to identify and target potentially high-risk passengers and cargo, including advanced electronic information about every passenger and cargo shipment entering into the U.S. before their arrival, canine inspections and non-intrusive devices.
CBP Office of Field Operations’ dual mission is to facilitate travel in the United States while we secure our borders, our people and our visitors from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terrorist weapons, criminals, and contraband.