Secure Da Bag
Veteran
Largest cocaine seizure in New York in a quarter centuryMar 11, 2019, 10:44 AM ET
- By Aaron Katersky
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Federal agents in and around New York seized a shipment of cocaine worth approximately $77 million at the port of Port of New York/Newark on Feb. 28, 2019.more +
The crates said dried fruit from Colombia. There was no indication that they were holding tens of millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine but that is what federal agents said they discovered in the biggest coke bust in New York in a quarter century.
After what was described as a routine interdiction, the agents said they found 3,200 pounds of cocaine in a shipping container that arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey on Feb. 28.
The drugs had an estimated street value of $77 million.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Federal agents in and around New York seized a shipment of cocaine worth approximately $77 million at the port of Port of New York/Newark on Feb. 28, 2019.more +
“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 of Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Operations.
The cocaine was concealed behind boxes of dried fruit, according to a source familiar with the seizure. The cargo ship arrived in Newark from Buena Ventura, Colombia, and its next stop was Antwerp, Belgium.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Federal agents in and around New York seized a shipment of cocaine worth approximately $77 million at the port of Port of New York/Newark on Feb. 28, 2019.more +
Authorities weren’t sure whether the cocaine was meant for the United States or Europe, the source said, but the seizure was lauded for keeping the drugs off the streets.
(MORE: Body stuffed in duffel bag identified as 9-year-old Los Angeles girl; 2 detained)
“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.”
Now I'm about to watch American Gangster.
Now that I'm thinking about it, what are the top 10 drug movies? Assuming you had the weekend to binge on them?
