U.S. Customs & Border Protection seized 161 pounds of cocaine Saturday inside several boxes manifested as flowers arriving to the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport on a cargo aircraft that departed from Bogota, Colombia. The estimated value of the seized cocaine is $1.8 million.   

“Transnational Criminal Organizations select diverse routes within the supply chain to introduce narcotics," said Roberto Vaquero, assistant director of field operations for border security in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  “Businesses and companies within the supply chain must reinforce their security systems to avoid such inconveniences.”

On Mar. 7, a CBP Contraband Enforcement Team inspected various parcels at the cargo inspection station for the San Juan Airport.  A CBP K9 alerted to several boxes. The CBP contraband enforcement team seized the cocaine and Homeland Security Investigations special agents took custody of the packages for investigation.  

CBP’s mission is to safeguard America’s borders thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.