U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on Wednesday that officers working at the Nassau Pre-clearance facility had seized approximately 65 pounds of cocaine with an estimate street value at more than $472,000.
CBP official said that the evidence was found in the possession of two Bahamian citizens attempting to travel through the Pre-clearance port to Florida.
“While this is one of the largest seizures in the history of Nassau Pre-clearance, it is indicative of our officer’s vigilance, teamwork and commitment to disrupting transnational criminal activity when the opportunity arises,” Jeffrey Mara, director at the CBP Nassau Pre-clearance port said.
Officers at the Pre-clearance port were able to intercept the travelers after discovering that the bags that they had reported as empty actually contained approximately 30 packages with a white substance that tested positive as cocaine.
U.S. Pre-clearance ports offer the opportunity for foreign travelers entering the United States to undergo the same inspections that would typically take place upon arrival into the U.S. at their point of origin instead.
CBP Pre-clearance operations currently function at 15 foreign airports in six different countries.
The Bahamian citizens found carrying the packages were turned over to Royal Bahamas Police Officers.