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  4. Parcel Inspections at the Ground Level of Drug Dealer Arrest

Parcel Inspections at the Ground Level of Drug Dealer Arrest

Release Date
Thu, 03/14/2019

LOUISVILLE, Ky– CBP officers at an Express Consignment Operation (ECO) in Louisville seized a shipment that turned out to be a major piece of the puzzle for law enforcement officers in Baltimore, Maryland.

This pill press was seized by CBP officers in Louisville. It is illegal to import a pill press without DEA authorization.
This pill press was seized by CBP
officers in Louisville. It is illegal to
import a pill press without DEA
authorization. 

On February 25, 2019 HSI Baltimore reported the discovery and dismantlement of a clandestine narcotics lab used by a darknet vendor and re-shipper, following the execution of a state search warrant.  With the assistance of the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), HSI Baltimore arrested Meir Lazar, a U.S. citizen, on violations of state drug charges after a search warrant was conducted on Lazar’s residence in which law enforcement discovered three firearms, various amounts of cocaine, ecstasy pills, LSD stamps, methamphetamines, marijuana, THC laced oils and candies, mushrooms, scales, packaging materials and an MDMA dye stamp with the logo “LEGOS.”  In addition, law enforcement discovered in the backyard, a shed that Lazar had converted into a “darknet” lab with numerous computers.

CBP’s Port of Baltimore worked closely with HSI Baltimore to identify shipments destined to Lazar’s address that authorities later seized. In the past seven months, Lazar was the recipient of 10 international parcels seized by CBP containing methamphetamines, MDMA, mephedrone and 2C-B1. However, one of the final pieces that led to the search warrant of Lazar’s residence was found in Louisville.  Officers at the ECO seized a pill press from China destined for Lazar’s residence. These presses are used to compress powder into pills, and are illegal to import without DEA authorization as they fall under drug paraphernalia laws.

CBP inspected the package with collaboration between the field and the National Targeting Center. “The inspection of internationally arriving packages plays a critical role in CBP’s effort to combat the opioid epidemic,” said Thomas Mahn, CBP Area Port Director for Louisville.

Lazar will face additional charges as the investigation continues.

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