Coke users along the East Coast, and perhaps throughout the country, may have to wait a little longer to get their product after 3,200 pounds of cocaine was seized at a Port of New York/Newark back on February 28. The product was found on a ship that had originated in South America.
A press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the bust was a joint effort between them, the New York Police Department, the New York State Police, the Coast Guard, Homeland Security, and the DEA, and they say that the amount of coke they snatched had a street value of $77 million.
"This apprehension is the second largest cocaine seizure at the Port of New York/Newark, and the largest in nearly 25 years," said the CBP, coming in second to a bust of 6,600 lbs. back in the mid-'90s.
The massive shipment was discovered after a shipping container headed into the country was found to have 60 packages with a white powdery substance in them. Upon being tested it was confirmed that that substance was cocaine:
"Cocaine, New York's nemesis of the 90's, 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."
