STERLING, Va. – On August 8, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport intercepted nearly 34 pounds of ketamine hydrochloride, a dangerous substance commonly abused by addicts. The discovery was made when CBP agriculture specialists detected anomalies in a rushed suitcase that had arrived from Amsterdam. Upon further investigation, eight pouches of white crystalline substance were found, later identified as ketamine hydrochloride using a handheld elemental isotope analysis tool.
The seized ketamine, weighing 15.3091 kilograms (approximately 33 pounds and 12 ounces), has a street value estimated at $900,000. Since the substance was found in rushed baggage, the traveler associated with the suitcase was not on-site, and an investigation is currently ongoing.
Ketamine hydrochloride, a Schedule III non-narcotic compound regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, is used in human and veterinary medicine but is often abused for its hallucinogenic properties. Overdoses of the drug can lead to severe health risks, including respiratory failure and death.
Marc Calixte, Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Washington, D.C., highlighted the importance of CBP’s efforts to intercept illicit drugs and protect communities from dangerous substances. This seizure is part of a broader CBP initiative, which on average intercepts over 2,300 pounds of narcotics each day at U.S. air, sea, and land ports of entry.
CBP officers continue to be on the frontlines of border security, ensuring the safety and economic vitality of the United States.–News Desk