US embassy cable - 05LIMA4721

UNCLAS LIMA 004721 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
AMEMBASSY CARACAS: PASS TO CUSTOMS ATTACHE OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, PE 
SUBJECT: MANIFEST REVIEW UNIT ALERT RESULTS IN FURTHER 
CONTROLLED DELIVERY 
 
REF: A. 3891 
 
     B. 4512 
     C. 4514 
 
1.  (SBU) Lima NAS/DEA Manifest Review Unit (MRU) and NAS US 
Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) Officers, working  at 
the Port of Callao,  continue to provide illicit narcotics 
alerts to US Law Enforcement entities leading to seizures and 
controlled deliveries of cocaine originating from Peru.  The 
most recent seizure occurred on October 31 in Newark, NJ, 
where the USCBP Sea Operations Enforcement Branch searched a 
container containing wood and wood by-products, and an 
undetermined amount of cocaine was discovered.   On October 
20, the NAS USCBP K9 Advisor forwarded the alert to the USCBP 
Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (AT-CET), Miami, 
which subsequently notified USCBP in the port of Newark.  A 
controlled delivery operation will occur at the cocaine,s 
final destination in order to identify and arrest the 
traffickers involved in this shipment. 
 
2.  (SBU) USCBP Officers in Newark used an Itemizer that 
provided an alarm for cocaine residue.  Furthermore, a canine 
alerted to the presence of cocaine in a pallet of wood.  All 
told, 8 pallets were scanned by the Pallet VACIS scanner 
system, and distinct density discrepancies were located in 
the middle bottom area of the pallet of wooden boards. 
Pertinent pallets were drilled from the bottom producing a 
white powder substance.  Seventy-seven boards in total were 
found to have been hollowed out and 2 white packages were 
secreted inside the hollow areas.  One hundred and fifty four 
 
SIPDIS 
packages were discovered with an average weight of 
approximately 4 ounces which tested positive for cocaine. 
Additional details to follow on septel pending controlled 
delivery and total cocaine discovered. 
STRUBLE