A woman’s attempt to conceal her cargo with coffee was foiled when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Dulles discovered nearly two pounds of heroin. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
A food courier who was on her way from Guatemala City to Washington, D.C. found herself in trouble when she was apprehended at Dulles International Airport. The reason for her arrest? She had almost two pounds of heroin concealed in her shipment. Thanks to the diligent efforts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, the drugs were discovered hidden within bags of coffee. This incident serves as yet another example of the resourcefulness employed by drug traffickers in their attempts to smuggle narcotics into the United States.
Maria Jose Recinos Rodriguez, a 31-year-old woman from Guatemala, arrived on Sunday morning with the hope of going unnoticed on her journey. Unfortunately for her, CBP officers became suspicious and decided to conduct a secondary inspection. Upon closer examination, they discovered that the packages she was carrying, which were labeled as food courier packages, contained more than just coffee beans.
Coffee Bags Mask Dangerous Cargo
During the inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents made a significant discovery. They found three packages and four small sleeves filled with a white substance. To confirm their suspicions, the officers utilized a handheld elemental isotope analysis tool, which ultimately identified the substance as heroin hydrochloride.
The heroin, weighing approximately one pound and 12 ounces (798 grams), holds a street value of $55,000. Despite the clever attempt to conceal the drugs within coffee bags, this smuggling strategy proved to be ineffective.
“Drug trafficking organizations employ various tactics to smuggle their dangerous drugs into the United States, often disguising them within seemingly harmless food shipments. However, Customs and Border Protection officers consistently demonstrate their expertise in detecting and uncovering these hidden concealment methods,” stated Calixte.
After her arrest, Recinos Rodriguez and the confiscated heroin were handed over to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police for additional investigation and legal proceedings.
CBP plays a crucial role in combating drug trafficking by detecting and foiling the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by traffickers. Highly trained officers diligently lookout for even the slightest inconsistencies, effectively thwarting such illicit endeavors.
