Marijuana Hidden In Lucky Charms Cereal Box Seized By Louisville CBP Officers

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville, Kentucky, took hold of four pounds of marijuana that was found hidden inside a box of Lucky Charms cereal, as confirmed by authorities Monday.

One of the CBP narcotic detector dogs named "Kary" alerted officials to a shipment of cereal heading from Louisville to a private residence in Great Britain on Feb. 24. When officers opened the box to take a closer look, they noticed that the cereal contained more than hearts, clovers, stars and red balloon marshmallow pieces; the cereal had vacuum-sealed bags. Officers then went on to test the substance, which was positive for marijuana.

CBP then carefully ran inspection operations on both arriving and departing international cargo. While marijuana is legal in many US states, the sale, possession, production, and distribution of the drug remain illegal under federal law. According to authorities, mailing a shipment of marijuana overseas is also prohibited.

"Drug Smugglers will go to any lengths to ship their narcotics in and out of the U.S.," a CBP press release stated. "Officers have found drugs hidden in car parts, religious paintings, tombstones, clothing…the list is endless."

"Our officers are very familiar with the many ways smugglers try to evade inspection," said Thomas Mahn, Port Director-Louisville. "Officers learn to think creatively about where things might be hidden because drugs can be anywhere—inside books, auto parts, spools of ribbon, crepe makers, study binders, food, statues, photo frames—if there is space inside an item it could contain something illegal."

CBP continued to perform a multi-layered, risk-based approach to border security and narcotics interdiction in order to extend zones of security outward. It includes sharing information with U.S. and foreign law enforcement partners, properly implementing security measures across the global supply chain, leveraging risk-based targeting and intelligence-driven strategies on imports, and positioning narcotics detector dogs and non-intrusive inspection technology at all ports of entry. Also, obtaining advance information to intercept shipments that pose a potentially higher risk of containing contraband has appropriately been observed.

According to LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, the director of field operations in Chicago, the seizure last week showed CBP's ability to detect and "intercept illicit narcotics at mailing facilities."