Two abandoned backpacks with about 78 pounds of cocaine, worth over $1.1 million, were found near the Canadian border in Washington, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced.
The discovery was made by agents from the Blaine Sector while patrolling on Thursday, December 19... Continue reading here ▶
The Blaine Sector, which covers western Washington, Alaska, and Oregon, located the two black bags in a wooded area near Lynden, Washington.
Inside the bags, agents found 30 packages containing a white powdery substance. Tests confirmed it was cocaine, and the drugs were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
A CBP spokesperson said the cocaine was smuggled from Canada. Both U.S. Border Patrol agents and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police searched the area on both sides of the border but didn’t find any suspects.
Chief Patrol Agent Rosario “Pete” Vasquez praised the agents, saying, “Thanks to their vigilance, these dangerous drugs were kept out of our communities. This seizure highlights their hard work and dedication to protecting our nation.”
So far in 2024, CBP has seized over 68,000 pounds of cocaine. The DEA classifies cocaine as a dangerous Schedule II drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Cocaine use can cause serious health issues, including increased blood pressure, heart rate, insomnia, cardiac arrest, strokes, and even death.
