Largest cocaine stash found in years at Philadelphia port
Left: HSI Philadelphia displayed 363 pounds of cocaine that was pressed and sealed then smuggled in pumpkin and squash shipments from Costa Rica. DEA agents, HSI and CBP intercepted the stash on Thursday. Right: HSI and DEA special agents and CBP officers find pressed and wrapped sheets of cocaine in a ship at the Port of Philadelphia on Thursday.
PHILADELPHIA — Federal law enforcement authorities announced Wednesday the seizure of 363 pounds of cocaine concealed in cases of Costa Rican pumpkins and squash at the Port of Philadelphia.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the announcement. Authorities are continuing a joint investigation.
The cocaine was shaped in 384 long, thin packages that were laminated to the inside of the fruit case box flaps. The container was destined to a distributor in the Bronx, N.Y.
The container of fruit arrived aboard the M/V Santa Maria. CBP officers discovered the cocaine during a thorough inspection of the shipping container and its contents. Field tests confirmed the white, powdery substance as cocaine.
The cocaine weighed 164.7 kilograms or a little more than 363 pounds and has a street value of more than $6 million.
“This is an immense amount of cocaine found cleverly stashed in the shipment of produce,” said John Kelleghan, HSI Philadelphia special agent in charge. “It’s a testament to our combined local and federal law enforcement efforts that we were able to find this shipment. With HSI’s transnational investigative network working with the DEA, we will continue to track down those who tried to smuggle these narcotics into the country.”
“This significant cocaine seizure illustrates how corroboration between partner law enforcement agencies keeps our communities safe,” said Susan Stranieri, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “Narcotics interdiction remains a Customs and Border Protection enforcement priority. We’re pleased to have stopped this deadly shipment from entering the U.S.”
“The DEA Philadelphia Field Division received an investigative lead and information was passed to our counterparts at Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection that led to the seizure of 165 kilograms of cocaine. When law enforcement works together using all of our resources and removes such a substantial amount of cocaine from our streets, this is a major blow to the drug-trafficking organizations that operate in our area,” said Gary Tuggle, special agent in charge for DEA Philadelphia Division.
Along with CBP, HSI and the DEA, local law enforcement partners from the Pennsylvania Attorney General Office’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations and the Nether Providence Township Police Department assisted with the seizure and investigation.
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