CBPFor the second time in seven days, authorities have seized a significant load of cocaine at the Port of Wilmington.
On Wednesday, August 30, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Coast Guard and Delaware National Guard Counter-Drug Taskforce targeted a shipment similar to the one targeted on August 22, where authorities seized 99 pounds of cocaine hidden in pineapple cases, according to CBP Spokesman Stephen Sapp.
CBP officers opened the container that held the shipment of pineapples from Costa Rica, and similar to last week’s seizure, a Wilmington Police Department narcotics detector dog alerted to pallets of pineapple cases.
Sapp said CBP officers examined the cases and discovered strips of vacuum-sealed cocaine packages concealed similarly to the August 22 load, inside the corrugated bottom flaps of the cardboard boxes.
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The multi-agency team discovered 244 packages of cocaine with a combined weight of more than 100 pounds and a street value of more than $3 million, said Sapp.
No arrests have been made.
“This significant narcotics seizure illustrates the importance of learning from experience and the value of collaboration among partners with a shared interest in helping keep our families and our communities safe,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore. “Customs and Border Protection and our federal, state, and local partners will remain steadfast in our commitment to intercepting dangerous drugs at our nation’s borders.”
Sapp said that the Wilmington Police Department contributed multiple canine units to both seizures.
“This case illustrates how joint investigative effort and cooperation between agencies directly affects the safety and security of our local communities,” said Capt. Kurt Clarke, deputy commander, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia. “Through coordinated team efforts we will continue to work together to keep drugs out of our ports and off of our streets.”
August 22 Cocaine Seizure
Wilmington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Wilmington seized 99.66 pounds of cocaine on August 22, 2018, according to Public Affairs Specialist Anthony Bucci.
Bucci said the cocaine was secreted within the corrugated bottoms of 20 cardboard boxes containing pineapples from San Carlos, Costa Rica. The shipment was destined to Clifton, NJ.
The CBP Wilmington Advanced Targeting Unit (ATU), U.S. Coast Guard targeting unit, and Delaware National Guard Counter-Drug Taskforce CBP Liaison, targeted the shipment. A K9 alerted to the shipment which promoted further inspection leading to the discovery of the narcotics.
“Part of CBP’s mission is to prevent illicit narcotics from entering the U.S. utilizing all the resources at our disposal – technology, K9s, CBP officers, and our law enforcement partners,” said Casey Durst, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore. “This interception is a great example of the results we can accomplish working with our partners across the law enforcement community.”
CBP routinely conducts random inspection operations on international passengers and cargo and searches for narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products.
