SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO—Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at Express Consignment Facilities in San Juan, Puerto Rico yesterday afternoon, made an interesting discovery inside a Personal Computer Tower (PC). Carefully concealed inside the machine, CBP officers found 4 packages of a white powdery substance that subsequently tested positive for cocaine.
The cocaine weighted approximately 5.3 kilos (11.6 lbs) and has an estimated street value of $132,500.
CBP officers found the drugs after routine x-rays showed anomalies within this everyday item. Smugglers hid the packages within empty spaces in the PC.
The interdicted narcotics were shipped from Guadeloupe and destined for France.
"CBP officers use their experience, training and available resources in the detection and interdiction of concealed controlled substances. Everyday our CBP officers are engaged in a battle to outsmart one of the most dangerous and clever enemy of this nation - the drug smuggler," stated Director of Field Operations Marcelino Borges.
CBP officers and agriculture specialists are stationed at express consignment facilities located throughout the country.
CBP constantly conducts enforcement operations on international parcels and is always on the lookout to identify and intercept any type of contraband or prohibited items being shipped to the U.S.