U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the port found over 424 pounds of the illegal narcotic hidden in a shipment of tires that originated in South America.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents seized more than 424 pounds of cocaine, valued at an estimated $8.08 million, at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, according to a statement from the agency.
CBP officers that assigned to the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) at the Los Angeles and Long Beach port complex found the narcotics hidden inside a shipment of tires that originated in South America.
The A-TCET team used non-intrusive inspection technology, similar to an x-ray, to identify an anomaly in the cargo while still inside a shipping container. Once they opened the container, the agents found three large bundles with a total of 170 brick-sized packages of a white powder that tested positive for cocaine, CBP said.
The agency did not disclose the name of the vessel, its operator, or the beneficial cargo owner(s) involved in the shipment.
“Without any doubt, this is one of the most significant narcotics interceptions in recent years at our nation’s largest seaport,” said Carlos Martel, CBP port director at Los Angeles and Long Beach. “I commend the extraordinary commitment and dedication of CBP officers whose vigilance resulted in this successful seizure.”
“Narcotics interdiction remains a top Customs and Border Protection enforcement priority, and this case illustrates how CBP officers use a combination of advanced inspectional skills and non-intrusive inspection technology to intercept dangerous drugs and to help keep our communities and citizens safe,” added Martel.
In fiscal year 2014, CBP seized over 3.8 million pounds of illegal narcotics across the United States, including cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, hashish, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and steroids.