CHICAGO– U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Chicago Field Office (CFO) led the nation in narcotic seizures for the second straight year. The CFO seized more than 15,000 packages, totaling more than 19,500 pounds, of narcotics, the highest in the U.S. In fact, the packages seized by CFO is almost double the amount of the next field office.

On June 7, while inspecting a parcel containing 20 containers of styling hair gel. At the bottom of each

container was 13 pounds of Methamphetamines

Chicago’s Field Office is the largest geographical field office in CBP. The CFO encompasses most of the Midwestern United States, covering 28 Ports of Entry (POE), 10 User Fee Airport, and 3 major Express Consignment Operation (ECO) hubs (UPS, FedEx, DHL) in 12 states (Illinois, Ohio Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, most of Minnesota, and Erie, Pennsylvania).

The three ECO hubs process 40% of the total U.S. international Express consignment entry volume. The FEDEX facility is in Indianapolis, DHL is in Cincinnati, and UPS is in Louisville, Kentucky. Additionally, O’Hare’s International Mail Facility processes 20% of the international mail coming into the United States.

CFO uses multiple layers of enforcement tools, such as advanced electronic data, x-ray screening, canine resources, and rapid onsite identification of unknown substance. The leadership also recognizes the most integral part, the experience level of the officers of CBP. “The knowledge and unwavering dedication displayed by our uniformed officers, Import and Entry Specialist, and those employees that support frontline operations is key to our success,” said Robert White, Director Field Operations, Chicago Field Office. “Regardless of the environments our men and women are assigned – airports, international mail facilities, express consignment cargo hubs, and along the great lakes. We are all linked through our commitment to serve our country.”

In the past two fiscal years CFO has seized more than 40,829 shipments of narcotics totaling more than 50,622 pounds. Eugene Matho, Cleveland’s Assistant Area Port Director oversees CBP’s operations at the DHL in Cincinnati. He believes criminals will continue to ship their narcotics through express consignment operations (ECOs) hoping it slips by. “Express courier and international mail facilities are extremely high-volume facilities. Shippers of illicit goods may feel that the odds would be in their favor to use these venues as a way to circumvent inspection and smuggle contraband into the United States. But the numbers show the officers and specialists stationed at these hubs and facilities are extremely skilled at finding that one illegal shipment out of 200,000 every night, and they are among the nation’s finest in recognizing and intercepting illicit shipments of any kind.”

And the smugglers are very creative when it comes to shipping their products. “Our officers and specialists are some of the most highly trained in the nation, and their level of expertise is evident in the numbers they produce year after year,” said Steve Mindardi, Acting Area Port Director, Cleveland. Our officers find contraband in everything imaginable: inside rolls of cheese, stuffed animals, auto parts, spools of ribbon, bags of coffee, crepe makers, jump ropes, tombstones, statues, photo frames, magazines, and within the packaging itself. Our officers and specialists are adept at identifying the full spectrum of enforcement issues, whether it is counterfeit botox, smuggled live animals, dangerous synthetics, illegal food products, or narcotics.” Some of the other items used to smuggle drugs were a horse saddle, picture frames, healthcare products, food and car parts.

During this past fiscal year, CFO’s top three narcotics seized were Ecstasy, other drugs/prescriptions/chemicals, and marijuana.

CBP conducts operations at ports of entry throughout the United States, and regularly screens arriving international passengers and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted or prohibited products. CBP strives to serve as the premier law enforcement agency enhancing the Nation’s safety, security, and prosperity through collaboration, innovation, and integration.