$31M worth of cocaine seized from shipping container in Georgia

6years ago

Savannah news, Georgia news.

Georgia authorities have announced a Savannah port-record cocaine seizure in a shipping container supposed to be carrying aluminum wast and scrap metal from South America to Europe.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers made the discovery as they were inspecting 21 duffel bags that were inside the container. More than 2,100 pounds of cocaine packed into 818 bricks were found in the container when the ship carrying it docked at the Savannah Port.

The seizure is considered a new record for the port since the May 2019 seizure of 1,280 pounds of cocaine. Authorities estimated the value of the amount intercepted at $31 million.

The agency's director of field operations in Atlanta described the "scourge" of illicit narcotics as "a very serious international health and security threat."