Philadelphia – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized a total of 179 pounds of marijuana bound for the United Kingdom at an international shipping facility in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, just before Thanksgiving.
On November 13, CBP officers discovered marijuana in 24 parcels weighing a total of 46 kilograms, or approximately 101 pounds and six ounces. Later, on November 19, they found another 28 parcels containing marijuana with a combined weight of about 35.4 kilograms or around 78 pounds and one ounce. These packages were shipped from various addresses in California to multiple locations in the U.K.
The combined weight of these seizures was approximately 81.4 kilograms or about 179 pounds and seven ounces. The street value of the confiscated marijuana is estimated at $780,000 in the United States. However, depending on its potency, the value could be two to three times higher in London.
“These seizures should send a message that exporting marijuana, or any other illicit commodity, is both an illegal endeavor and poses a significant risk of failure,” stated Cleatus Hunt, CBP’s Area Port Director for Philadelphia. “Despite their failures, nefarious organizations continue to test Customs and Border Protection officers’ expertise in hunting their illicit shipments because smugglers are driven by greed. Our message remains the same: if you keep sending it, we’ll keep seizing it.”
Federal law prohibits transporting marijuana across state lines or exporting it from the United States. Despite this regulation, CBP has observed a trend where U.S.-based growers and criminal organizations attempt to ship high-quality marijuana to Europe and Africa due to potentially higher market values.
During the first two weeks of November alone, CBP officers intercepted additional shipments totaling 343 pounds and another batch weighing 170 pounds intended for export to the U.K.
Moreover, on October 22, CBP officers apprehended two women attempting to board a flight to London with 114 pounds of marijuana hidden in their baggage. The women were arrested on felony narcotics possession charges.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues its mission at Ports of Entry across the nation by screening international travelers and cargo for illicit substances including narcotics and other dangerous goods that threaten public safety.
