MIAMI — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at an air cargo warehouse near Miami International Airport intercepted about 49 pounds of suspected cocaine concealed inside music equipment, in a shipment moving from the Dominican Republic to India, according to the agency.
According to CBP, officers inspected a parcel on June 17 that was manifested as “Music Equipment” and was being shipped from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Delhi, India. During the inspection, officers found eight pouches and four bricks of a white powdery substance concealed within four speakers and two amplifiers, the agency said. Officers field-tested the substance and confirmed the presence of cocaine hydrochloride, according to CBP.
The seized narcotics weighed a combined 22.35 kilograms — about 49 pounds, four ounces — with an estimated street value of approximately $1.5 million, according to the agency.
The seizure was carried out under Operation Striker Shield, a CBP effort focused on targeting large shipments that pose a risk of narcotics smuggling during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to the agency. CBP seized the cocaine, and Homeland Security Investigations special agents are investigating, the agency said.
“This significant seizure underscores CBP’s unwavering commitment to securing our borders and preventing dangerous narcotics from reaching communities both here and abroad,” Daniel Alonso, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Miami and Tampa Field Office, said in a statement. “Operation Striker Shield, combined with the vigilance and expertise of our officers, is effectively disrupting transnational criminal organizations attempting to exploit legitimate trade routes. We will continue to leverage intelligence, advanced targeting, and officer intuition to interdict these illicit shipments.”
CBP said the seizure was carried out as part of the agency’s ongoing narcotics interdiction efforts. The agency added that under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, officers stop illicit narcotics from entering U.S. communities while facilitating lawful trade and travel.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity at ports of entry can report it to CBP by calling 1-800-635-2509.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
