Iranian Heroin In U.S.A
Heroin with a street value of more than $1 million was seized this week by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the DHL hub in the Wilmington Air Park.
The heroin was hidden inside books, said Brett Sturgeon of the U.S. Customs field office in Chicago.
“Each book contained no pages, but CBP officers are now able to tell the story of the significant seizures of 7.75 kilograms of heroin intercepted in international shipments,” Sturgeon said.
The four separate international express shipments, manifested as documents, were shipped via air from Tehran, Iran, and destined for separate locations in Toronto, Canada.
“CBP officers selected the shipments for X-rays and upon physical examination discovered anomalies inside the books,” Sturgeon said. “Each shipment was found to contain what appeared to be two books inside cardboard book sleeves.”
The books had been cut away with only the back binding edge remaining and placed in the sleeve, giving the appearance of a leather bound book, Sturgeon said. “Inside each book sleeve was found one plastic bag containing a light brown powder substance. The substance field tested positive for heroin,” he said.
A total of 7.75 kilograms of heroin was seized with an estimated retail value of $171,600 per kilo for a total street value of over $1 million.
“CBP officers made these outstanding seizures of heroin with a combined weight of nearly eight kilograms and worth over a million dollars,” said Janice Adams, assistant director of field operations, Customs and Border Protection in Chicago.
“I assure you that CBP will remain vigilant at our express mail facilities and on the constant lookout to keep our borders safe and to prevent illegal drugs from entering this country,” Adams added.
No arrests have been made in connection with the seizures.
The DHL hub in Wilmington is one of the busiest express consignment mail facilities in the United States, averaging about 35,000 shipments for inspection per night, Sturgeon pointed out.
Customs officers at the DHL hub are responsible for examining express mail shipments, for all border-related responsibilities including narcotics interdiction, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases and also the interdiction of counterfeit items, documents and monetary instruments, Sturgeon said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of U.S. borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
The heroin was hidden inside books, said Brett Sturgeon of the U.S. Customs field office in Chicago.
“Each book contained no pages, but CBP officers are now able to tell the story of the significant seizures of 7.75 kilograms of heroin intercepted in international shipments,” Sturgeon said.
The four separate international express shipments, manifested as documents, were shipped via air from Tehran, Iran, and destined for separate locations in Toronto, Canada.
“CBP officers selected the shipments for X-rays and upon physical examination discovered anomalies inside the books,” Sturgeon said. “Each shipment was found to contain what appeared to be two books inside cardboard book sleeves.”
The books had been cut away with only the back binding edge remaining and placed in the sleeve, giving the appearance of a leather bound book, Sturgeon said. “Inside each book sleeve was found one plastic bag containing a light brown powder substance. The substance field tested positive for heroin,” he said.
A total of 7.75 kilograms of heroin was seized with an estimated retail value of $171,600 per kilo for a total street value of over $1 million.
“CBP officers made these outstanding seizures of heroin with a combined weight of nearly eight kilograms and worth over a million dollars,” said Janice Adams, assistant director of field operations, Customs and Border Protection in Chicago.
“I assure you that CBP will remain vigilant at our express mail facilities and on the constant lookout to keep our borders safe and to prevent illegal drugs from entering this country,” Adams added.
No arrests have been made in connection with the seizures.
The DHL hub in Wilmington is one of the busiest express consignment mail facilities in the United States, averaging about 35,000 shipments for inspection per night, Sturgeon pointed out.
Customs officers at the DHL hub are responsible for examining express mail shipments, for all border-related responsibilities including narcotics interdiction, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases and also the interdiction of counterfeit items, documents and monetary instruments, Sturgeon said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of U.S. borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.