More than 17 pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden in dog shampoo bottles at Los Angeles International Airport were found earlier this month in a cargo shipment destined for Australia, officials announced Wednesday.
The discovery was made on April 1, as officers assigned to LAX’s Outbound Enforcement Team were conducting an exam on an outbound shipment declared as “Assorted Dog Shampoos,” a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) news release stated.
Inside the shipment, officers found 12 plastic bottles labeled as dog shampoo.
“After opening the bottles, CBP officers discovered a crystalized white substance that, after further analysis, tested positive for methamphetamine,” the news release stated.
Officials estimated the potential street value of the methamphetamine at $1.8 million.
“This interception highlights CBP’s critical outbound mission in detecting, intercepting and seizing potent narcotics heading out of the United States, to countries where illegally imported drugs are sold at a premium,” said CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles Cheryl M. Davies.
More information about drug seizures can be found on the CBP website.