PHILADELPHIA, PA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted nearly seven pounds of methamphetamine on Tuesday after an x-ray scan flagged an unusual parcel moving through an international shipping facility in Delaware County, officials announced.
The package, bound for an address in the Netherlands, drew attention during routine screening. When officers opened the parcel, they found multiple zip-lock bags filled with a cloudy crystalline substance. Using handheld isotope analysis equipment, CBP determined the material was d-methamphetamine hydrochloride.
The drugs weighed 3.05 kilograms — just under 6 pounds, 12 ounces — with an estimated U.S. street value of about $240,000. Officials noted the shipment could fetch even higher profits overseas, depending on purity.
Methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, is commonly manufactured with highly toxic, flammable, or corrosive chemicals. The drug can trigger severe health consequences including paranoia, anxiety, irregular heartbeat, stroke, and the extreme dental decay known as “meth mouth.”
Cleatus P. Hunt, Jr., CBP’s Area Port Director for Philadelphia, praised the officers’ vigilance.
“Customs and Border Protection officers continue to work diligently to hold the line against the scourge of dangerous drugs along our nation’s borders, and we will continue to intercept that illicit poison before it can harm our communities or hurt our friends overseas,” Hunt said.
CBP officials said the investigation into the shipment remains ongoing.
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