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Feds Seize Over $1 Billion Of Cocaine In Historic Bust In Philadelphia

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 18:59

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El Armadillo For Borderland Beat From CBS

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Over $1 billion worth of cocaine was seized during a drug bust at Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia on Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says. Federal sources confirmed to CBS3 that a bust took place on a cargo ship that was docked at the port.

*BREAKING NEWS* Members of the ship’s crew have been arrested and federally charged, and the investigation is on-going. @ICEgov @CBPMidAtlantic @PhillyPolice @USCG https://t.co/sSkGBZXJGT

— U.S. Attorney EDPA (@USAO_EDPA) June 18, 2019

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 16.5 tons of cocaine was confiscated, making it the largest drug seizure in the history of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Two people were arrested and federally charged. Before coming to Philadelphia, the Mediterranean Shipping Company ship was previously in the Bahamas, Panama, Peru and Colombia.

“A U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations-led multi-agency inspection of shipping containers aboard the MSC Gayane resulted in a substantial cocaine seizure in Philadelphia on June 17, 2019. Authorities continue to process the seized cocaine and continue its inspection aboard the vessel in the Port of Philadelphia. Authorities have made two arrests, and will release a final tally and additional details when this operation concludes,” the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement

Authorities say agents boarded the vessel, identified the container in question, inspected it and removed it from the vessel. It was then taken to an undisclosed federal facility for analysis.

Authorities are weighing the cocaine at the location and looking for other evidence, including DNA.

Officials say there may be more drugs in other containers on the vessel.

The length of the investigation could continue long enough that the vessel will have to be moved to make way for other incoming ship traffic.

*BREAKING NEWS* Federal authorities have seized approximately 16.5 TONS of cocaine from a large ship at the Packer Marine Terminal in Philadelphia. This is the largest drug seizure in the history of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. @ICEgov @CBPMidAtlantic @PhillyPolice @USCG

— U.S. Attorney EDPA (@USAO_EDPA) June 18, 2019

U.S. Attorney William McSwain was personally overseeing parts of the investigation and drug seizure

“This is one of the largest drug seizures in United States history. This amount of cocaine could kill millions – MILLIONS – of people,” McSwain tweeted.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company said in a statement they are taking “this matter very seriously.”

“Mediterranean Shipping Company is aware of reports of an incident at the Port of Philadelphia in which U.S. authorities made a seizure of illicit cargo. MSC takes this matter very seriously and is grateful to the authorities for identifying any suspected abuse of its services,” the statement reads. “Unfortunately, shipping and logistics companies are from time to time affected by trafficking problems. MSC has a longstanding history of cooperating with U.S. federal law enforcement agencies to help disrupt illegal narcotics trafficking and works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).”

Mayor Jim Kenney’s office said in a statement that Kenney is “thankful for the hard work” of local and federal authorities.

“Every ounce of drugs we keep off the streets is helping to keep Philadelphians safe and alive. Mayor Kenney is thankful for the hard work of the Philadelphia Police Department, FBI, ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.

The suspects’ identities have not been released.

Source: http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2019/06/feds-seize-over-1-billion-of-cocaine-in.html

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