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CBP seizes 22 pounds of cocaine at San Juan Airport

Release Date
Wed, 10/05/2016

Contraband seized from passenger arriving from U.S. Virgin Islands

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico —U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations Officers seized Sunday 22 pounds (9.9 Kilograms) of cocaine from a passenger arriving to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan from St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.  The estimated street value of the seized contraband is approximately $277,000.   

“San Juan Office of Field Operations has a responsibility to ensure that criminal organizations do not use lawful travel as a means to conceal and move narcotics,” said Edwin Cruz, Area Port Director for Puerto Rico. “Our officers remain vigilant to detect and prevent any attempts to circumvent the security measures that are in place.”

CBP Officers are authorized to inspect passengers at ports of entry without a search warrant
CBP Officers are authorized to inspect
passengers at ports of entry without a
search warrant

CBP officers interviewed the passenger, a citizen of the United States and resident of St. Thomas. Inside his carry-on luggage a total of six brick shaped objects were found, whose content reacted positive to cocaine. 

CBP notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, who assumed custody of the seized contraband and arrested the subject.

 CBP uses sophisticated methods to identify and target potentially high-risk passengers and cargo, including advanced electronic information about every passenger and cargo shipment entering into the U.S. before their arrival, canine inspections and non-intrusive devices.

CBP Office of Field Operations’ dual mission is to facilitate travel in the United States while we secure our borders, our people and our visitors from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terrorist weapons, criminals, and contraband.

Follow us on Twitter @CBPCaribbean.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021