3,200 Pounds Of Cocaine Hidden In Crates Of Fruit In NY

Authorities reported the largest cocaine seizure in New York in a quarter century when they announced today they found 3,200 pounds of cocaine hidden in crates of fruit.

According to abcnews. The crates said they were filled with dried fruit from Colombia but they were also holding tens of millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine.

Federal agents said they found the cocaine in a shipping container that arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey on Feb. 28. The drugs had an estimated street value of $77 million.

Authorities said it was the largest cocaine seizure at the Port of New York/Newark since May 1994. The cocaine was reportedly discovered when agents were on the ship inspecting the containers and noticed the ceiling pins for a particular shipping container had been tampered with.

Agents x-rayed the container, opened it and found the drugs.

The cocaine was reportedly concealed behind boxes of dried fruit. The cargo ship arrived in Newark from Buena Ventura, Colombia, and its next stop was Antwerp, Belgium.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is now working to identify the source of the drugs and who put it onto the ship, sources told ABC news. Investigators are looking at several organizations who could be responsible and, eventually, they’re gunning for arrests.

The source said they weren’t sure whether the cocaine was meant for the United States or Europe but the seizure was celebrated for keeping the drugs off the streets.

“Cocaine, New York’s nemesis of the 90s, 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.”