U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Jacksonville discovered about 235 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $3.47 million on Tuesday.
The container arrived in Jacksonville aboard a freighter from Panama and originated in Chile.
A news release from customs said that officers, while inspecting maritime cargo containers at the Port of Jacksonville, identified a suspect container that showed signs of tampering.
It said the officers conducted an examination of the contents of the container and discovered 100 bricks of cocaine.
The drugs were packaged inside four black duffel bags on top of the cargo.
Subsequently, a customs canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. One of the bricks was tested by officers and the substance tested positive for cocaine, said the release.
The case is under investigation and no arrests have been made.
“This is an outstanding example of the excellent work being performed by our officers in stemming the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States,” said Director of Field Operations Vernon Foret.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the U.S. borders at and between official ports of entry.
It is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.