Customs officers tasked with inspecting packages at a UPS facility in Louisville discovered more than $17 million worth of cocaine packed in fake silicone tubes last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Thursday.
A CBP officer based at the UPS Express Consignment Shipment House in northern Kentucky chose to look over a large shipment of “silicone adhesive” from Sao Paulo, Brazil, last Thursday based on “knowledge and experience of smuggling techniques,” the agency said in a statement.
The shipment had just made a 5,000-mile trip to the U.S. facility and was supposed to be sent along to Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo — another 7,300 miles away.
CBP found 24 tubs of silicone adhesive containers inside 60 boxes. The containers were filled with white powder that was tested on scene and reacted positive for cocaine.
A total of 1,147 pounds of cocaine were seized by CBP officers.
