Customs officials in Cincinnati seized cereal flakes frosted in cocaine last week. Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection said they intercepted the shipment of cocaine-coated cornflakes thanks to a sharp-nosed K9 officer.
Customs and Border Protection narcotic detector dog Bico sniffed out the shipment of cereal guaranteed to wake you up in the morning while examining incoming freight from Peru. The 44 pounds of corn flakes were addressed to a private home in Hong Kong.
When officers opened the shipment, they discovered the cereal covered in white powder and coated with a grayish substance. Since drug dogs don’t alert to delicious breakfast cereal, agents tested the flakes and powder. It turned out to be cocaine.
Cocaine schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Cereal Worth 3 Million Dollars
Officials estimated the street value of the cereal at close to 3 million dollars. That’s a mighty expensive breakfast.
Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie pointed out that smugglers will hide narcotics in anything imaginable. “The men and women at the Port of Cincinnati are committed to stopping the flow of dangerous drugs, and they continue to use their training, intuition, and strategic skills to prevent these kinds of illegitimate shipments from reaching the public.”
Smugglers have hidden drugs in everything from pineapples to snakes to fake butts in an attempt to get past customs
Cocaine abuse can lead to many adverse health consequences including cardiac arrhythmias, heart conditions, cardiac arrest, convulsions, stroke, and death.
Customs and Border Protection monitors ports of entry all over the United States. In addition to screening passengers arriving from overseas, they also check incoming cargo for drugs, weapons and other contraband. On a typical day in Fiscal Year 2020, CBP seized 3,677 pounds of drugs at ports of entry across the nation.