$900K in Cocaine Found Hidden in Hot Chocolate at Virginia Airport

$900,000 worth of cocaine was found hidden in hot chocolate at Dulles Airport.

Cocaine or Cocoa?

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport intercepted a significant drug shipment concealed in an unlikely disguise: hot chocolate. The discovery involved 28 pounds of cocaine, valued at nearly $900,000, packed within 10 hot chocolate containers and smuggled by a traveler from Guatemala.

Clever Packaging Fails to Fool CBP

The drugs were uncovered on Oct. 5, when CBP officers conducted a routine inspection of the courier's belongings. Inside the seemingly innocent packages of hot chocolate, officers found layers of coffee grounds and chocolate bars, beneath which 10 tightly wrapped bricks of cocaine were concealed.

Using advanced portable technology for chemical analysis, officers confirmed the substance as cocaine hydrochloride. The shipment was destined for Northern Virginia, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by sophisticated drug smuggling operations.

No Criminal Charges for the Courier

Although the courier was initially detained, authorities were unable to establish a solid link between him and the illegal narcotics. Without sufficient evidence to press charges, prosecutors opted not to proceed with a case. The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was returned to Guatemala after his visa was canceled.

CBP's Commitment to Combatting Drug Trafficking

Marc E. Calixte, the Area Port Director overseeing operations at Dulles, commended the officers’ diligence in intercepting the drugs.
“Drug trafficking organizations continue their attempts to smuggle dangerous substances into the United States,” Calixte stated. “CBP officers remain vigilant and committed to protecting our communities from these harmful threats.”