SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 71 pounds (32 Kilograms) of cocaine found Wednesday inside six ice cream machines sent from the Dominican Republic via the ferry. The estimated street value of the seized contraband is $768,000.
During a routine inspection of cargo from the marine vessel KYDON, CBP officers decided to further inspect a consignment of six ice cream machines. Inside officers discovered bricks of suspected cocaine. A field test yielded positive results to the properties of cocaine.
‘Illicit narcotics are concealed by transnational criminal organizations among legitimate cargo to try to avoid detection,” said Roberto Vaquero, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. “Our CBP officers use technology, as well as their training and expertise to discover the concealment methods and avoid these dangerous drugs from reaching our communities.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents took custody of the seized consignment for investigation.
CBP’s mission is to safeguard America’s borders thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the Nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.