U.S. Border Patrol officials in Miami intercepted a shipment of narcotics in a rather unconventional way this past Tuesday. A bundle containing eight pounds of cocaine was found attached to the underside of a ship arriving from the Dominican Republic, a case that the officials have termed a "parasitic load." Chief Michael Banks described the seizure in a statement reported by NBC Miami, showcasing the efforts of the Border Patrol's BORSTAR dive team.
The dive team is specialized in such operations, and they employed underwater cutting tools to extract the drugs from the ship's hull. In a statement obtained by NBC Miami, Banks noted, "Our specialized team made history with their first ever parasitic drug seizure." The method of smugglers strapping drugs to a boat's hull is known for its discretion, making the bust all the more significant for U.S. Customs and Border Protection efforts.
In a social media post from the official Border Patrol account, pictures showed divers at work removing the bundle of cocaine. The Border Patrol agents' swift actions led to the drugs being seized and showcased an innovative advancement in the ongoing narcotics interdiction initiatives. "This marks an innovative advancement to continuing narcotics interdiction efforts," Banks' post read, emphasizing the significance of the event.
