More UK-Bound Marijuana Seized At Delco Facility: Customs

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Once again, federal authorities have seized a United Kingdom-bound shipment of marijuana at a Delaware County facility, bringing the total amount seized at that facility in November to nearly 700 pounds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said its officers seized a combined 179 more pounds of marijuana before Thanksgiving at an international shipping service facility in Delaware County.

While inspecting export parcels on Nov. 13, officers found marijuana in 24 parcels that weighed a combined 46 kilograms, or 101 pounds and 6 ounces. Then on Nov. 19, officers discovered another 28 marijuana-stuffed parcels that weighed a combined 35.4 kilograms, or about 78 pounds and 1 ounce.

The parcels were all being shipped from multiple addresses in California to multiple addresses in the United Kingdom.

These seizures collectively weighed 81.4 kilograms, or about 179 pounds and 7 ounces.

Authorities said the marijuana has a street value of about $780,000 in the United States. Depending on potency, these parcels could have fetched two to three times more in London.

Earlier in November, customs officers also bagged a combined 343 pounds of marijuana and a combined 170 pounds of marijuana in export parcels during the first two weeks of November that were also destined to the United Kingdom.

Those seizures combined with the most recent seizure bring the total amount found at the Delaware County facility to 692 pounds.

Additionally, CBP officers seized 114 pounds of marijuana in the baggage of two women attempting to fly to London on Oct. 22. Local authorities arrested the two women on felony narcotics possession charges.

"These seizures should send a message that exporting marijuana, or any other illicit commodity, is both an illegal endeavor and poses a significant risk of failure," Cleatus Hunt, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, said. "Despite their failures, nefarious organizations continue to test Customs and Border Protection officers’ expertise in hunting their illicit shipments because smugglers are driven by greed. Our message remains the same, if you keep sending it, we’ll keep seizing it."