Cruise ship security officers found 69.5 Pounds (31.5 Kilos) of cocaine during a routine inspection last week while the vessel was off the coast of Florida. According to US Customs and Border Protection officials, the ship’s security found suspicious garbage bags with brick shape packages in a void space of the ship. The package was handed over to CBP officers assigned to Port Everglades after the ship docked into port on June 6.

“This seizure is indicative of the excellent collaboration CBP has with our industry partners to detect and interdict illegal drugs being smuggled into our nation.” said Dylan DeFrancisci, Port Director of Field Operations for Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, Fl. “Our officers strive daily developing and enhancing our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, industry partners and the citizens of our community to stop criminal activity at our borders, be it land, air or sea.” 

On June 6, CBP officers met the cruise ship and their security team during their maintenance stop at Port Everglades. CBP confirmed that the white power substance tested positive for cocaine and was secured by Customs and Border Protection.

While the cruise ship was at port, the CBP Advanced Tactical Cargo Enforcement Team completed a thorough inspection of the vessel and no further contraband was located.

The Director of Field Operations Vernon T. Foret said that 28 bricks of the contraband was discovered on a Royal Caribbean ship. 

“Officers in Port Everglades FL were notified by a First Officer of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that 28 bricks of cocaine, weighing more than 31 kgs was discovered while doing routine inspections. The drugs, were seized by CBPO’s.” Mr. Foret said.

.@DFOFlorida @cbp officers in Port Everglades FL were notified by a First Officer of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that 28 bricks of cocaine, weighing more than 31 kgs was discovered while doing routine inspections. The drugs, were seized by CBPO’s. pic.twitter.com/Owgl6kFqKb

— Director of Field Operations Vernon T. Foret (@DFOFlorida) June 11, 2021