Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have uncovered 403 pounds of cocaine stashed inside a shipment of rolling door cylinders that arrived from the Dominican Republic to the port of San Juan in Puerto Rico.
The CBP estimates the street value of the illicit narcotics to be $3.6 million.
On October 3, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) conducted inspections on containers arriving at the port of San Juan.
Law enforcement officials used nonintrusive technology and detected anomalies within the containers.
CBP
The officers then discovered 156 bricks, concealed inside rolling door cylinders.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Border Enforcement Security Team (BEST) assumed custody of the contraband and launched a criminal investigation into the drug bust.
“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 combatting 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.” said 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.”
In the 2024 federal fiscal year, the San Juan Field Office seized 11,800 pounds of narcotics.
Terri Beth Miller, senior editor at Rehab.com, told Newsweek: “Cocaine is a dangerous and highly addictive drug. It’s a stimulant that produces rapid, intense, but short-lived effects on the central nervous system, resulting in a significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure. These impacts on the cardiovascular system may result in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest.”
The seizures are part of ongoing CBP operations to intercept and prevent the trafficking of illicit drugs into the country.
There has been a string of high-profile cocaine busts in recent months as border agents try to stem the flow of illegal drugs.
In October, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) seized cocaine worth over $11 million after intercepting a vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico.
Authorities found 17 bales with bricks of cocaine weighing over 1,321 pounds on the vessel, and three Dominican Republic citizens were arrested.
In a separate case in the same month, CBP officers confiscated 12.2 kilograms (27 pounds) of cocaine concealed within a hidden compartment in a motorized wheelchair at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston.
Border security is a top concern for voters in this year’s election cycle as Vice President Kamala Harris goes head-to-head with former President Donald Trump on election day.
Polling by Redfield & Wilton Strategies on behalf of Newsweek showed 68 percent of Americans believed the federal government should adopt a more hard-line approach to immigration.