1.6 Tons Of Drugs Seized In One Of NJ's Biggest Busts In 25 Years

Authorities seized 1.6 tons of drugs – enough to kill 1.7 million people – in one of the biggest New Jersey busts since 1994, authorities announced Monday.

Approximately 3,200 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $77 million, were recently seized at the Port of New York/Newark in a joint operation involving US Customs and Border Protection, according to authorities. A lethal dose of the drug is typically 1.2 grams, according to authorities.

An examination of a shipping container entering the United States on Feb. 28 revealed 60 packages containing a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine. This apprehension is the second largest cocaine seizure at the Port of New York/Newark, and the largest in nearly 25 years.

The US Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the New York State Police (NYSP) all assisted, according to a release from the US Customs and Border Protection.

“This is a significant seizure. In fact, it is the largest cocaine seizure at the Port of New York/Newark since May 1994” said Troy Miller, director of New York Field Operations.

“The ongoing partnership between CBP, USCG, HSI, DEA, NYPD, and NYSP continues to produce results that protect the American public," he said. "This interception prevents a massive quantity of drugs from getting to the streets and in the hands of our children.”

Transnational Criminal Organizations rely upon illicit networks throughout the world to supply, transport, and distribute cocaine and other dangerous drugs, said Brian Michael, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Newark.

“HSI’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force in Newark, comprised of Federal, State and Local law enforcement working together, strengthened by HSI’s international partnerships and DHS’s combined assets, play a critical role in disrupting the worldwide cocaine chain,” he said

DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan said cocaine, "New York’s nemesis of the '90s," is back, indicating traffickers push to build an emerging customer base of users mixing cocaine with fentanyl.

“This record breaking seizure draws attention to this new threat and shows law enforcement’s collaborative efforts in seizing illicit drugs before it gets to the streets and into users’ hands,” he said.

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said the proliferation of illegal drugs in New York City will "never be tolerated, neither by law enforcement nor by the people we serve."

"The NYPD and its law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying and stopping all illegal narcotics by attacking their distribution networks on every level," he said. "Through significant seizures such as this, we will continue to make every neighborhood in our nation’s safest large city even safer.”

CBP officers seized the illicit drugs and turned them over to agents from Homeland Security Investigations for further investigations.