U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Baltimore intercepted a substantial shipment of Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic drug, on June 11. The consignment, weighing 695 pounds, was intended for an address in Harford County, Maryland.
DMT is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance due to its hallucinogenic effects. Although it gained popularity in the 1960s as a drug of abuse, DMT continues to be found on the illicit market alongside other tryptamine hallucinogens. Users may smoke, snort, inject, or consume DMT orally for its intense but brief psychedelic experience. However, unlike LSD and similar substances, DMT does not have approved medical use in the United States.
The seized shipments arrived via air cargo from Chiapas, Mexico between May 7 and May 27. Each consisted of four boxes containing a total of 100 vacuum-sealed bags filled with a brown powdery substance. Upon examination by CBP officers and subsequent analysis by CBP’s Laboratories and Scientific Services on June 6, the substance was confirmed to be DMT.
The packages collectively weighed approximately 315.5 kilograms (about 695 pounds) and had an estimated street value of $555,000. Following the seizure of the DMT shipments, investigations are ongoing.
Jason Kropiewnicki, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director in Baltimore commented: “The global marketplace has allowed unscrupulous people in our communities to order dangerous drugs such as DMT from overseas manufacturers that could hurt and potentially kill abusers.” He emphasized that inspecting imports is crucial to CBP's border security mission and that seizures like this help protect communities.
In their daily operations last year at various ports of entry across the nation—airports included—CBP officers and agents seized an average of 1,571 pounds of illegal drugs each day.
CBP’s Office of Field Operations oversees border security missions at Ports of Entry with officers screening international travelers and cargo for illicit narcotics among other threats that could endanger public safety or economic stability.
For updates on breaking news related to CBP activities in Baltimore follow @DFOBaltimore on Twitter or visit @cbpfieldops on Instagram for broader coverage from CBP’s Office of Field Operations.
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