36 Pounds Of Ketamine Sent From The Netherlands Seized In Philly

PHILADELPHIA — Customs officials in Philadelphia recently seized more than three dozen pounds of ketamine, according to authorities.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Customs and Border Protection officers seized ketamine concealed in picture frames in separate shipments that arrived on Wednesday and Friday last week in express air delivery at Philadelphia International Airport.

With help from Customs officers in Chicago, Philadelphia Customs officers inspected the parcels, which arrived from The Netherlands.

The packages were destined to an address in Hartford County, Connecticut.

Each shipment had six picture frames.

Officers found a white substance hidden in the corrugated plastic backing of those picture frames.

A handheld chemical analyzer identified the substance as ketamine.

Officials said the total weight of the ketamine and picture frames was 16.4 kilograms or about 36 pounds, three ounces.

CBP turned the picture frames and ketamine over to Homeland Security Investigations.

Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations in Hartford, Connecticut arrested a subject and are investigating the shipment.

According to the DEA, ketamine is a Schedule III non-narcotic drug regulated under the Controlled Substances Act.

Along with other club drugs, ketamine is popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs and raves. It delivers hallucinogenic effects and is sometimes used to facilitate sexual assault crimes. Ketamine can induce a state of sedation, immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia as the user may have no memory of events while under the influence.

Ketamine also distorts perceptions, causes temporary paralysis and dangerously slows breathing, potentially shutting down body systems and leading to cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.