LOUISVILLE, USA — Criminals use various ploys to smuggle their drugs across the border and into the US. They hide their drugs in false compartments on cars, taped to their body, in spare tires, and other creative schemes; US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seen these strategies before. While those initiatives happen at the border, smugglers are also using the mailing system to conceal and ship their narcotics.
However, CBP officers at the Port of Louisville are also aware of these tactics and are stopping shipments dead in their tracks.
In the past week, officers have seized shipments containing items that were laced or concealed drugs. Officers saw packages with woodwind trumpets laced with cocaine, Chromebooks packed with two pounds of methamphetamine, and seven pounds of Methamphetamine-soaked Nerf children’s toys.
“These interceptions are a true testament to the diligence of our frontline CBP officers,” said LaFonda D. Sutton Burke, Director Field Operations Chicago Field Office. “Our officers remain alert as they use multiple enforcement tools to conduct inspections protecting our communities at ports of entry.”
In addition to those seizures, CBP officers also stopped two pieces of art from Canada. Intrusive inspection revealed a white, crystalline substance, Methamphetamine, sealed inside the paintings. Additionally, on May 10, officers examined a large carousel craft, that was arriving from Pharr, Texas, that appeared to be hollow. Officers x-rayed the craft and noticed anomalies along the walls of the craft and tested powder that was in a crack of the craft. The substance was identified as Phenyl Fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance. The drug weight for the Phenyl Fentanyl in carousel craft in contaminated shipping box was 39 pounds. These two shipments were both destined for Australia.
Drug smugglers are also trying to find interesting ways to hide their narcotics when they ship them. Officers have found drugs in toys, sandals, clothing, metal cylinders and corsets. “CBP encounters narcotics and other contraband concealed in an ever-changing variety of items,” said Thomas Mahn, Port Director-Louisville. “Our officers remain vigilant often using their experience and intuition to discover these concealment methods to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities.”
CBP seized an average of 4,732 pounds of dangerous drugs every day across the United States last year. Learn more about what CBP accomplished during “A Typical Day” in 2021.
