Norfollk (WTKR) — Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers seized 732 pounds of cocaine concealed in cans of fruit juice in a shipping container at the Port of Norfolk on December 20th.
The wholesale value is about $12 million with a street value as much as $100 million. The seizure is the largest in the port’s history.
CBP tactical operations officers from the Port of Norfolk were conducting a container inspection operation when they discovered the narcotics.
Anomalies discovered during an initial non-intrusive examination of the cargo led the officers to do a more intensive physical search that led to the seizure of the narcotics.
“CBP is fully committed to interdicting the flow of illicit narcotics into our ports of entry. The vigilance and expertise that is utilized in identifying complex concealment methods enhances CBPs layered defense in protecting the United States against dangerous drugs. One of the keys to combating narcotics networks with our partners at ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Hampton Roads Border Enforcement Security Task Force (HR BEST) is to disrupt their transportation and distribution routes, and this seizure effectively eliminates one potential route,” said Area Port Director Mark J Laria.
The cocaine was hidden inside a 20-foot container originally from Trinidad and Tobago and was targeted by CBP officers based on intelligence and current narcotic trends.
The shipment was destined for New York. No arrests have been made at this time.
