A U.S. Customs and Border Protection canine unit discovered 21 ounces of cocaine concealed in an airline cabin panel about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Washington-Dulles International Airport.
CBP narcotics detector dog Rex alerted during a routine enforcement sweep of Avianca Airlines flight 286 after passengers and crew deplaned. A CBP officer found a loosened overhead panel and discovered two wrapped bricks concealed behind the panel. Field tests proved positive for the presence of cocaine.
Additional CBP officers, with the assistance of an airline mechanic, conducted a complete sweep of the aircraft, but found no additional narcotics. The Avianca Airlines flight originated in Bogota, Colombia.
The 607.7 grams, or 1 pound, 5 ounces, of cocaine has an estimated street value of around $40,000.
