The United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) prevented Lucky the Leprechaun from smuggling cannabis overseas this week.
On Monday, CBP announced that officers in Louisville, Kentucky seized four pounds of cannabis concealed inside a box of Lucky Charms cereal.
CBP says Narcotic Detector Dog Kary discovered the hidden cannabis while working outgoing freight on February 24.
According to CBP, the box of Lucky Charms was part of a shipment headed to a private residence in Great Britain.
After Kary alerted officers to the cereal box, they discovered vacuum-sealed bags inside.
CBP says the officers tested the substance inside the bags and identified it as cannabis.
CBP says it has discovered cannabis inside of car parts, religious paintings, tombstones, clothing, and an endless list of other smuggling items.
“Our officers are very familiar with the many ways smugglers try to evade inspection,” says Louisville Port Director Thomas Mahn. “Officers learn to think creatively about where things might be hidden because drugs can be anywhere—inside books, auto parts, spools of ribbon, crepe makers, study binders, food, statues, photo frames—if there is space inside an item, it could contain something illegal.”
CBP says it conducts inspection operations on all arriving and departing international cargo.
And while cannabis is legal to produce, possess, sell, and consume in many states, CBP notes that it is still illegal under federal law which also prohibits mailing it overseas.
CBP says it utilizes a multi-layered, risk-based approach to narcotics interdiction to extend its security zone outward.
The approach includes sharing information with domestic and foreign law enforcement partners, implementing global supply chain security measures, using non-intrusive inspection technology at ports of entry, and deploying narcotics detector dogs.
“This marijuana seizure further illustrates CBP’s continued vigilance to detect and to intercept illicit narcotics at mailing facilities,” says Chicago Field Operations Director LaFonda Sutton-Burke. “The vigilance and expertise of the officers involved, along with the diligence of our canine partners, is commendable.”
