FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at Port Everglades arrested a male citizen of the Bahamas for smuggling approximately 2.4 pounds of cocaine taped to his ankles and in his luggage. The man was arriving on a cruise ferry from the Bahamas on Aug. 13.
An attempted drug smuggling attempt at Port Everglades.
During an inspection, CBP officers noticed the man nervously moving items around in his luggage as they asked him questions. Upon further inspection of the luggage, CBP officers discovered two brick-shaped packages which revealed a white, powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.
After patting down the man, CBP officers discovered additional packages of cocaine taped to the subject’s ankles. A total of 2.4 pounds of cocaine was seized. The cocaine and all evidence were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“This is another excellent example of our CBP officers’ expertise and vigilance in preventing dangerous drugs from entering the United States," said Port Everglades Port Director Jorge Roig. "We're proud of our officers and the dedication demonstrated daily in support of CBP’s mission."
The men and women of CBP are responsible for enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws and regulations. On a typical day, CBP welcomes nearly 1 million visitors, screens more than 67,000 cargo containers, arrests more than 1,100 individuals and seizes nearly 6 tons of illicit drugs.
To find out more about CBP operations in Florida, visit @CBPFlorida on Twitter.