Authorities seize approximately 3,200 pounds of cocaine
NEWARK, NJ – On Feb. 28, approximately 3,200 lbs. of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $77,000,000, was seized at the Port of New York/Newark in a joint operation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joint Task Force East (JTF-E), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and the New York State Police (NYSP).
An examination of a shipping container entering the United States revealed 60 packages containing a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine. This apprehension is the second largest cocaine seizure at the Port of New York/Newark, and the largest in nearly 25 years.
“Transnational Criminal Organizations rely upon illicit networks throughout the world to supply, transport, and distribute cocaine and other dangerous drugs,” said Brian Michael, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Newark. “HSI’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force in Newark, comprised of CBP, Waterfront Commission of NY Harbor Police, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Port Authority Police Department, and Dover Police Department worked together to make this operation a success. They were strengthened by HSI’s international partnerships and DHS’s combined assets, which play a critical role in disrupting the worldwide cocaine chain.”
“This is a significant seizure, in fact it is the largest cocaine seizure at the Port of New York/Newark since May 1994,” said Troy Miller, Director, CBP New York Field Operations. “The ongoing partnership between CBP, USCG, HSI, DEA, NYPD, and NYSP continues to produce results that protect the American public. This interception prevents a massive quantity of drugs from getting to the streets and in the hands of our children.”
“Cocaine, New York’s nemesis of the 90s, is back-indicating traffickers push to build an emerging customer base of users mixing cocaine with fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “This record-breaking seizure draws attention to this new threat and shows law enforcement’s collaborative efforts in seizing illicit drugs before it gets to the streets and into users’ hands.”
CBP officers seized the illicit drugs and turned them over to agents from HSI for further investigations.
HSI also wishes to thank the the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) for their assistance.
HSI routinely works with its partner federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to intercept dangerous drugs before they can reach our communities.
HSI’s workforce includes special agents, analysts, auditors and support staff. Its men and women are assigned to cities throughout the United States and to offices around the world. HSI’s international force is the department’s largest investigative presence abroad and gives HSI one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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