The investigation stemmed from a seizure this past November at the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, where Customs Inspectors discovered a little over one hundred pounds of cocaine hidden inside a 20 foot container originating from Peru. They referred their finding to the local Resident-Agent-In-Charge office, which conducted the preliminary investigation and subsequent coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration. An international controlled delivery ensued that revealed the major figures involved in the smuggling ring.

The success of this investigation came about as a direct result of the fine work by Customs Inspectors and Special Agents in Charleston working together following the initial seizure. Customs' continued participation in the case yielded important leads for national authorities and strengthened their investigations.

Customs routinely makes narcotics seizures like the one in Charleston. The importance of these actions is sometimes lost in the seemingly endless cycle of seizures and arrests that occur every day on our front lines. But this investigation demonstrates how large criminal organizations can be taken down through a chain that starts by tracing small loads of narcotics. It also shows how U.S. Customs' law enforcement actions at the border can have an impact that goes far beyond our national boundaries.