Cocaine Disguised as Hot Chocolate Intercepted at Virginia Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted a shipment of cocaine worth approximately $900,000 hidden within hot chocolate packages at Washington Dulles International Airport. The discovery was made in a shipment arriving from Guatemala, intended for an address in Northern Virginia.
Upon inspection, officers uncovered 10 bricks of cocaine concealed between layers of coffee grounds and under double-wrapped chocolate bars, according to a CBP press release. The suspicious white powder was tested with a handheld elemental isotope analysis tool and identified as cocaine hydrochloride.
Marc E. Calixte, CBP’s Area Port Director for Washington, D.C., commended the officers’ vigilance, stating:
“Drug trafficking organizations continue trying to smuggle their illicit narcotics into the United States, but vigilant Customs and Border Protection officers are relentless in their efforts to intercept these smuggling attempts and to protect our communities from the scourge of dangerous drugs.”
The courier was detained on October 5, 2024, but authorities later released him on November 12, citing insufficient evidence to link him directly to the drugs. His visa was canceled, and he returned to Guatemala on a flight the following day.
This seizure highlights CBP’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking. Last year, officers and agents confiscated approximately 2,339 pounds of dangerous drugs at U.S. ports of entry. This case underscores the increasing sophistication of drug-smuggling operations and the critical role of law enforcement in safeguarding communities.
