PHILADELPHIA, PA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Philadelphia intercepted two international shipments containing nearly 73 pounds of ketamine hydrochloride earlier this month. The illicit drugs, disguised as common auto and air filter parts, were en route from Europe to South Florida.
The first parcel, originating from France and declared as “industrial air filter HEPA air filter,” was seized on July 5 and contained over 46 pounds of ketamine. The second shipment, sent from Germany and labeled as “Mercedes E class headlight right W2,” arrived on July 9 and held nearly 27 pounds. Both packages were destined for Broward County, Florida.
Inside each parcel, CBP officers discovered white crystalline substances hidden within the packaging. Field testing confirmed the material as ketamine hydrochloride, a dissociative anesthetic regulated as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act.
Combined, the shipments totaled 72 pounds and 13 ounces, with an estimated street value of approximately $1.8 million. An investigation is ongoing.
“Ketamine is a very dangerous anesthetic that can seriously harm abusers and unsuspecting victims, and so it’s an illicit drug that Customs and Border Protection officers take immense pleasure at intercepting before it can reach our communities,” said Cleatus P. Hunt, Jr., Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Philadelphia.
This seizure follows a similar action in June, when CBP Philadelphia intercepted five shipments totaling 57 pounds of ketamine.
Known by street names such as Special K, Donkey Dust, and Cat Killer, ketamine is used legitimately in medical and veterinary settings to induce sedation and relieve pain. However, recreational abuse — particularly when mixed with drugs like ecstasy or used at dance clubs — poses severe risks, including hallucinations, unconsciousness, convulsions, and respiratory failure. Authorities also note ketamine’s troubling role in drug-facilitated sexual assaults.
CBP continues to target international drug traffickers who exploit commercial shipping channels, using advanced detection tools and interagency cooperation to stop narcotics before they enter U.S. communities.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.