U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Baltimore have seized nearly 104 pounds of Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a hallucinogenic drug, that was intended for delivery to an address in Harford County, Maryland. The seizure took place on Monday and involved two shipments, each containing 23 black vacuum-sealed bags.
According to CBP, the officers inspected the shipments on July 18 and July 28. Upon probing some of the bags, they found a brown powdery substance inside. Samples were sent to CBP’s Laboratories and Scientific Services for analysis, which confirmed on August 7 that the substance was DMT.
The total weight of the seized material was 47 kilograms, or approximately 103 pounds and 10 ounces. The estimated street value is about $80,000. An investigation into the case is ongoing.
CBP noted that this is not the first time such an attempt has been intercepted in Baltimore; in June, officers seized 695 pounds of DMT in a similar smuggling attempt.
DMT is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance with no approved medical use in the United States. It is known for its psychedelic effects and can be consumed by smoking, snorting, injecting, or orally through brews like Ayahuasca.
“Customs and Border Protection’s border security mission prioritizes intercepting dangerous drugs, such as DMT, at our nation’s ports of entry that could harm U.S. citizens and destroy our communities,” said Jason Kropiewnicki, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director in Baltimore. “The accessibility of dangerous drugs purchased through the global marketplace presents a unique challenge to CBP officers searching for them, but this seizure once again proves that our officers are up to that challenge.”
CBP reports that its officers and agents seized an average of 1,571 pounds of dangerous drugs daily at air, land, and sea ports across the country last year. Additional information about these efforts can be found at www.CBP.gov.
CBP’s border security operations are carried out by officers and agriculture specialists from its Office of Field Operations at ports of entry throughout the nation. These teams screen travelers and cargo for illicit narcotics as well as other prohibited items to protect public safety and economic interests.
CBP employs over 65,000 personnel who work across multiple environments—on land, at sea, and in the air—to enforce travel regulations and trade laws while supporting national security objectives.
