U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Baltimore have seized $875,000 in marijuana after it was discovered in a shipment of men’s overalls bound for Belgium. The discovery, made on April 29, revealed more than 200 pounds of the psychoactive drug concealed within 155 vacuum-sealed packages. The drug-filled packages were being shipped via air cargo to Belgium and were labeled as ‘brace overalls for men / heavy duty workwear bib.’
The seizure comes amid growing concerns about the smuggling of bulk marijuana to Europe and Africa, where high-quality weed can fetch substantial profits. Officials highlighted that the marijuana, with a street value of around $875,000 in the U.S., could be worth two to three times that amount in Europe, depending on its potency. Jason Kropiewnicki, CBP’s acting area port director for the Area Port of Baltimore, stated that smugglers, including transnational criminal organizations, based in oversaturated marijuana markets, attempt to generate revenue by illegally exporting bulk shipments to markets across the globe.
CBP officers noted that there is an ongoing trend of transnational criminal organizations trying to ship U.S.-based marijuana overseas to Europe and Africa. The incident is being investigated by special agents with Homeland Security Investigation’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force. The agency reported that every day last year, CBP officers seized an average of 1,571 pounds of drugs at different ports of entry across the U.S.
Additionally, the agency has recently intercepted other significant drug smugglings, including the seizure of 150,000 illegal cigarettes from cruise passengers in California and 242 pounds of smuggled Mexican bologna at a port of entry in Texas. These seizures reflect the persistent efforts of smugglers to exploit weaknesses in international transportation networks. The incident highlights the challenges faced by border authorities in preventing the illegal export of controlled substances and the potential for large-scale profits in international drug markets.