All articles tagged with #drug seizure
The U.S. Coast Guard, as part of Operation Pacific Viper, achieved its largest drug seizure in history by offloading over 76,000 pounds of illegal drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, valued at $473 million, demonstrating a significant effort to combat drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea.
The US Coast Guard has made its largest drug seizure in history off Florida, confiscating over 76,000 pounds of illegal drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, with an estimated street value of $473 million, as part of a multi-month operation targeting transnational drug trafficking.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in California seized over 1,400 packages of methamphetamine worth more than $18 million hidden in a shipment of squash. The discovery was made at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility using scanning technology and a narcotics detection canine. The driver was arrested, and the seizure is part of Operation Apollo, a counter-fentanyl effort.
British authorities discovered a record-breaking 5.7 tons of cocaine hidden in a shipment of bananas at the port of Southampton, with an estimated street value of $568 million. The National Crime Agency believes the drugs were destined for Hamburg, Germany, and would likely have made their way back to the U.K. criminal market. This seizure represents a significant blow to international organized crime cartels, and authorities are working with international partners to identify the criminal networks involved. The incident follows a trend of cocaine being concealed in banana shipments throughout Europe, with record amounts of cocaine being seized in recent years.
British authorities discovered a record-breaking 5.7 tons of cocaine, worth an estimated $568 million, hidden in a shipment of bananas at the port of Southampton, shattering the country's previous drug-seizure record. The National Crime Agency believes the drugs were destined for Hamburg, Germany, and would have likely made their way back to the U.K. criminal market. The agency is working with international partners to identify the criminal networks involved, as the U.K.'s cocaine market has seen a significant rise in associated violence in recent years. This seizure comes amid a trend of record amounts of cocaine being seized in Europe, with Colombia producing about 60% of the world's cocaine.
Over 9 tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than $239 million, were seized in six separate drug smuggling events off the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America last month. The largest seizure, weighing over 5,500 pounds, was recovered from a narco-submarine by the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard's efforts in intercepting these drugs are crucial in preventing the flow of cocaine into the country and disrupting cartel operations.
Over 220 pounds of suspected controlled substances, including eight million doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine-laced pills and powder, have been seized in Massachusetts. The drugs, with a street value of over $8 million, were allegedly being trafficked by a large-scale drug trafficking organization. Three men have been arrested in connection with the operation. The seizure included pills shaped like heart-shaped candy, designed to appeal to teenagers. The FBI's North Shore Gang Task Force led the investigation, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies. The defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute.
Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recovered illegal drugs worth N4.8 billion from a warehouse in Lagos. The seizure included millions of pills of tramadol and codeine, as well as cartons of codeine syrup. The Chief Security Officer to the alleged drug baron was arrested during the operation. In addition, the NDLEA intercepted counterfeit US dollars, arrested individuals involved in drug trafficking, and destroyed cannabis farms in different parts of the country. The agency's chairman called for intensified efforts to combat drug cartels.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, a former police chief, discovered a large shipment of cocaine weighing 70 pounds and valued at $1.1 million during a fishing trip in the Florida Keys. Castor and her family found the cocaine bale while fishing around debris, and she immediately recognized it as drugs due to her background in narcotics. They reported the find to the authorities, and U.S. Border Patrol agents seized the narcotics.
The US Coast Guard offloaded over 14,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $186 million in Miami, one of the largest drug seizures for the Coast Guard Cutter Bear's crew. Along with the drugs, 12 suspected smugglers were apprehended and face prosecution in federal courts by the Department of Justice.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized over 12 pounds of cocaine, worth about $400,000, on a flight from Jamaica to Philadelphia. The drugs were found in a drawstring bag with Bob Marley's face on it behind a cargo hold blowout panel. No arrests have been made.
The Mexican navy has seized almost 10 tons of liquid methamphetamine hidden in 11,520 bottles of tequila intended for export. The drugs were discovered using sniffer dogs and a chemical identification system, and were confirmed to be meth after further analysis. Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that is often dissolved into solutions to make it harder to detect during transport. The navy has already seized and destroyed approximately 114 tons of meth this year.
The Mexican navy has seized almost 10 tons of liquid methamphetamine hidden in 11,520 bottles of tequila intended for export. Already this year, the navy has seized and destroyed approximately 114 tons of meth. Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that usually takes the form of a powder or crystals, although it is often dissolved into solutions to make it harder to detect during transport before it is made into crystals again for consumption.
San Francisco Police Department's Tenderloin Station seized 2,774.9 grams of methamphetamine, 525 grams of fentanyl, and several other narcotics from an arrested subject in the Tenderloin neighborhood, which is ground zero for San Francisco's drug overdose crisis. The department called it an "Outstanding Arrest!" on Twitter, and other users commended the officers. The neighborhood's drug overdose crisis is driven by the widespread availability of fentanyl and claimed more lives during the pandemic than COVID-19.
The Marinette County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin displayed the drug seizures made on 4/20, which included marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.