On February 13, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Cincinnati say they intercepted a shipment of cocaine coated corn flakes originating from South America. The shipment was sent from Peru and destined for a private residence in Hong Kong.

The shipment was detected by a drug sniffing dog. Upon closer inspection, officials noticed white powder and a “grayish substance” coating the cereal’s flakes. Officers tested the flakes and powder and found they contained cocaine. Cocaine is a schedule II substance under the US Controlled Substances Act.

Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie said that smugglers will hide narcotics in anything imaginable.

“The men and women at the Port of Cincinnati are committed to stopping the flow of dangerous drugs, and they continue to use their training, intuition, and strategic skills to prevent these kinds of illegitimate shipments from reaching the public.”

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. On a typical day in Fiscal Year 2020, CBP seized 3,677 pounds of drugs at ports of entry across the nation.