However, this amount refers to the bark that DMT is refined from.
US Customs and Border Protection says they have seized nearly 115 pounds of DMT during two seizures in the last four months, nearly four times more than in the previous 12 months.
However, this amount refers to the bark that DMT is refined from. The most recent, on January 19, was a shipment of 57 pounds of tree bark sent from the Netherlands to New York.
Interestingly, rather than hiding the true contents of the shipment, the bark was labelled as “Mimosa Tenuiflora”, the plant that produces dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The bark can contain a very small amount of the psychedelic drug, less than 1 or 2% of total weight.
Although the total weight of the bark is listed as 57 pounds, it would only yield a fraction of that in terms of the active compound. If extracted for inhalation, a dose can be as low as 5mg of crystalline DMT. The bark can also be used to make an infused tea.
The DMT molecule is structurally similar to other psychedelic tryptamines such as 4-AcO-DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, as well as psilocybin. The US customs report referred to DMT as having an “LSD-like effect.”
In the same report, the US Customs and Border Protection also referred to the seizure of 3.5 gallons of gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL), which is used as a bodybuilding supplement and human growth hormone, and as a precursor in a date rape drug.
“The seizures of DMT and GBL reinforce the importance of Customs and Border Protection officers conducting thorough parcel examinations,” said Joseph Martella, Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Philadelphia. “Unscrupulous international vendors continue to peddle their illicit and dangerous products to American consumers, and CBP officers remain committed to intercepting their shipments before the products can harm American citizens.”
The second parcel arrived on January 19 from the Netherlands and was manifested as “Mimosa Tenuiflora.” CBP officers inspected the Dutchess County, N.Y., bound shipment and discovered 57 pounds of tree bark pieces.
During Fiscal Year 2021, which ended September 30, 2021, CBP officers in the Baltimore Field Office operations area seized nearly 18 pounds of GBL during five seizures and about 33 pounds of DMT during 21 seizures. So far this fiscal year, CBP officers have seized nearly 42 pounds of GBL during three seizures and nearly 115 pounds of DMT during two seizures.
