Ohio CPB Writes the Book on Million Dollar Heroin Seizures

More than $1 million in heroin is discovered inside hollow books. Courtesy photo. Wilmington, Ohio U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Wilmington DHL Hub seized more than $1 million in heroin hidden inside books. Each book contained no pages, but CBP officers are now able to tell the story of the significant seizures of 7.75 kilograms of heroin intercepted in international shipments. The four separate international express shipments, manifested as documents, were shipped via air from Tehran, Iran and destined for separate locations in Toronto, Canada. CBP officers selected the shipments for x-rays and upon physical examination discovered anomalies inside the books. Each shipment was found to contain what appeared to be two books inside cardboard book sleeves. The books had been cut away with only the back binding edge remaining and placed in the sleeve, giving the appearance of a leather bound book. Inside each book sleeve was found one plastic bag containing a light brown powder substance. The substance field tested positive for heroin. A total of 7.75 kilograms or more than 17 pounds of heroin was seized with an estimated retail value of $171,600 per kilo for a total street value of more than $1 million. CBP officers made these outstanding seizures of heroin with a combined weight of nearly eight kilograms and worth over a million dollars, said Janice Adams, assistant director of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection in Chicago. I assure you that CBP will remain vigilant at our express mail facilities and on the constant lookout to keep our borders safe and to prevent illegal drugs from entering this country. The DHL hub located in Wilmington, Ohio is one of the busiest express consignment mail facilities in the United States averaging about 35,000 shipments for inspection per night. CBP officers at these hubs are responsible for examining express mail shipments for all border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, protecting the nations food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases and also the interdiction of counterfeit items, documents and monetary instruments. No arrests were made in relation to these seizures.