CBP Seizes 10,000 lbs of Marijuana in Baltimore Port
A shipping container labeled as men's shirts arrived at the Port of Baltimore — but a two-year-old German shepherd named Letti knew something was wrong. Inside were 238 boxes stuffed with over 10,000 pounds of marijuana, bound for England. The bust is part of a sharp rise in drug smuggling through US ports that is putting all cargo and travelers under closer federal scrutiny.
Five Tons of Marijuana Found Hidden in a Shipping Container
On May 29, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Baltimore stopped a 40-foot shipping container headed to Liverpool, England. The container was labeled as men's shirts. Inside, officers found 238 boxes packed with vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana — more than 10,600 pounds in total. A two-year-old German shepherd named Letti, a CBP narcotics detector dog, first alerted officers to the drugs.
The marijuana weighed 4,815 kilograms and has an estimated street value of about $24 million in the United States. In Europe, that value could be twice as high. Federal law makes it illegal to possess marijuana, transport it across state lines, or export it from the country. No arrests have been made. Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) — a federal law enforcement agency that investigates cross-border crime — are still working the case.
Immigration Deadlines 2026 — Free
Download PDF with all key dates
A Growing Trend: Smuggling Marijuana to Europe
CBP says this is not an isolated incident. Criminal organizations are increasingly trying to move large amounts of marijuana to Europe, where profits can be two to three times higher than in the US. In recent months, CBP officers seized marijuana in London-bound luggage at Washington Dulles and Baltimore-Washington airports, and in shipping containers in Philadelphia. In Buffalo, officers stopped over 1,600 pounds in a commercial truck. CBP seized about 185,000 pounds of marijuana in the last full fiscal year (October 2024 through September 2025) and already about 190,000 pounds in just the first seven months of the current fiscal year (October 2025 through April 2026).
What This Means for Immigrants and Port Workers
Increased enforcement at ports of entry affects everyone who moves goods or travels through these checkpoints. CBP officers screen all international cargo and travelers — not just for drugs, but also for immigration status, unreported money, and prohibited items. If you work in shipping, logistics, or travel frequently, be aware that inspections are intensifying. Anyone connected to a shipment found to contain illegal goods — even unknowingly — may face questioning by federal agents.
What to Do
- If you work in shipping or logistics: Know what is in any container or package you sign for. Federal law can hold people responsible for goods they transport, even if they did not pack them.
- If you are questioned by CBP or HSI agents: You have the right to remain silent. Lawyers recommend you do not answer questions without speaking to an attorney first — this applies to immigrants and US citizens alike.
- If you are an immigrant worried about how port enforcement affects your status: Contact an immigration lawyer. Increased enforcement at ports can affect removal proceedings, immigration bond hearings, and other immigration court matters.
- Stay informed: Follow CBP announcements at CBP.gov and watch immigration news today for updates on enforcement trends that may affect your community.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Immigrants should understand that any contact with federal law enforcement — including CBP or HSI — can have consequences for an open immigration case, a green card application, or even a DACA renewal. If you are detained or questioned in connection with a federal investigation, do not make statements without counsel present; anything you say can be used in both criminal and immigration proceedings. Consult an immigration attorney immediately if you believe you may be connected to a federal investigation, even indirectly.