Nearly $18 million in cocaine seized in donated boxes of bananas

CBSNews
Updated ·1 min read
Nearly $18 million in cocaine seized in donated boxes of bananas

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) found something unexpected in two pallets comprised of 45 boxes of bananas that were donated at the Ports of America in Freeport: Nearly $18 million worth of cocaine.

The bananas had been donated to the TDCJ because they were too ripe, the TDCJ said in a Facebook post. Two sergeants from the Scott Unit were loading up the bananas when they noticed one of the boxes felt different.

Cocaine found in boxes in bananas at  Ports of America in Freeport, Texas. / Credit: Facebook / Texas Department of Corrections
Cocaine found in boxes in bananas at Ports of America in Freeport, Texas. / Credit: Facebook / Texas Department of Corrections

Under the bananas, they found a bundle of a white powdery substance, which U.S. Customs agents confirmed was cocaine.

They searched all 45 boxes and found 540 packages of cocaine with an estimated street value of $17,820,000.

U.S. Customs and Drug Enforcement are investigating.

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