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As all U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)officers know, there is pretty much no limit to the ways smugglers will try in an attempt to get their illegal drugs into the United States.
From hiding the drugs in shipments of onions and coconuts to concealing illegal narcotics in the floor frame of a tractor trailer and in shipments of flowers, they have tried, and failed, in just about every way imaginable.
One of the latest, and biggest, attempts to smuggle drugs into America that Customs and Border Protection officers ruined for the criminals took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
It was there that the CBP agents discovered and seized 403 pounds of cocaine concealed inside a shipment of rolling door cylinders.
The shipment, which originated in the Dominican Republic, was discovered while CBP officers assigned to the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) were inspecting containers from the M/V Wind arriving at the port of San Juan.
Using non-intrusive technology, the officers noticed some anomalies within a container. After further inspection, they found 156 bricks of cocaine concealed inside some rolling door cylinders.
🚨 SAN JUAN – CBP FINDS 403LBS OF COCAINE CONCEALED IN METAL DOOR CYLINDERS.
On Oct. 3, CBP officers found anomalies within a container arriving from the Dominican Republic. An inspection revealed 156 bricks of cocaine. The estimated value of the contraband is $3.6mil. @OFOEAC pic.twitter.com/j0MuI6rITX— San Juan DFO Roberto Vaquero (@DFOSanJuan) November 1, 2024
The estimated street value of the cocaine seized by CBP officers in this single bust was approximately $3.6 million.
“These seizures underscore the critical role our CBP plays in protecting our borders. Each interception, hidden within cargo from foreign sources, represents not only a victory against the flow of deadly substances but also our agency’s commitment to combating the devastating impact of drug trafficking on our communities. Our officers put themselves on the line daily to dismantle these threats and ensure a safer future for all.” stated Roberto Vaquero, Director of Field Operations for the San Juan Field Office.
“We remain watchful in our efforts to disrupt criminal networks attempting to exploit our ports and continue to partner closely with international, local and Federal agencies to uphold the safety and security of our region.”
During the 2024 fiscal year, CBP officers at the San Juan Field Office seized 11,800 pounds illegal narcotics.
Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Texas seized over $2.1 million worth of cocaine in a single bust, while CBP agents in Brownsville, Texas seized another $608,147 worth of cocaine hidden inside a 2015 Nissan being driven by a 22-year-old female United States citizen.