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US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have confiscated 69.5 pounds of cocaine found by the security team of a cruise ship, which handed over the contraband on docking at Port Everglades last week.
Cruise officials had alerted CBP officers-in-charge at the Port Everglades seaport after an inspection of the ship resulted in garbage bags with several brick-shaped bundles found in a void space when the vessel was off the coast of Florida.
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Dylan DeFrancisci, Port Director of Field Operations for Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, Fl, said that the seizure highlights the seamless collaboration CBP has with industry partners to prevent illegal drugs from being smuggled.
He added that officers strive to develop and enhance collaborations with industry partners, law enforcement agencies, and citizens of the community to stop illegal activities at the borders, be it air, land, or sea.
CBP officers connected with the cruise security team during a maintenance stop at Port Everglades on June 6. The white powdery substance tested positive for cocaine and had been secured by the CBP officers.
At the port, CBP’s Advanced Tactical Cargo Enforcement team carried out an in-depth inspection of the ship, and no further contraband was detected.
Source: Maritime Shipping News