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Miami officers foil cocaine shipment headed to Delhi
Authorities found 22 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside audio equipment headed to India.
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Ankita Baidya - Thu, 09, Jul 2026
- 03:34 EDT
- 28
CBP officers seized 22 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside speakers and amplifiers bound for Delhi. / Unsplash
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers with Miami Field Operations intercepted 22 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride at an air cargo warehouse near Miami International Airport on June 17 in a shipment destined for Delhi, India.
The parcel, manifested as "Music Equipment," had originated in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, before it was inspected by CBP officers.
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The interception was carried out under Operation Striker Shield, a CBP initiative targeting large shipments that pose a risk of narcotics smuggling ahead of and during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
During the inspection, officers found eight pouches and four bricks of a white powdery substance concealed inside four speakers and two amplifiers, CBP said. Officers field-tested the substance and confirmed it was cocaine hydrochloride.
According to CBP, the total seizure weighed 22.35 kilograms, or 49 pounds and four ounces, with an estimated street value of approximately $1.5 million.
"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.
Alonso said Operation Striker Shield, combined with the expertise of CBP officers, is "effectively disrupting transnational criminal organizations attempting to exploit legitimate trade routes."
He added that the agency would continue to use intelligence, advanced targeting and officer training to interdict similar shipments.
CBP officers seized the cocaine, and Homeland Security Investigations special agents are investigating the case.
The seizure comes under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
According to a Department of Homeland Security statement, Mullin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the ninth secretary of homeland security on March 24, 2026, succeeding Kristi Noem. He previously represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives for a combined 13 years, the department said.
Operation Striker Shield forms part of a broader CBP effort to secure high-volume trade and travel corridors during the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
CBP has said it is increasing scrutiny of air cargo shipments at major transportation hubs, including Miami, as part of heightened security measures tied to the tournament.
The operation combines intelligence, cargo screening and enforcement resources to disrupt transnational criminal organizations seeking to exploit international trade routes during the global sporting event.
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