U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently intercepted and seized two shipments of Ketamine, a ‘date rape’ drug, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The agency announced on Thursday the discovery of 10 kilograms of Ketamine stashed inside children’s board games. The two shipments from London were slated for transport to Miami, per a news release.
“Global criminal networks utilize a wide array of tactics to smuggle dangerous and deadly drugs into the United States, but our CBP officers are highly trained in detecting and stopping these schemes,” said Dallas Area Port Director Jayson Ahern in a statement.
Two CBP teams were involved in the bust: the Advanced Targeting Unit and the National Targeting Center. CBP agents nationwide intercepted 2,895 pounds of drugs and $217,700 in ill-gotten currency in fiscal year 2022 alone.
“Our drug interdiction efforts are vital to protecting American communities from the scourge of dangerous and deadly drugs,” Ahern said.
The effects of Ketamine are similar to that of a sedative yet can also include dissociation, hallucinations, and memory loss, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The powdery substance can be ingested, smoked, or snorted, whereas liquid compounds can be injected.
In 2003, the Department of Justice flagged Ketamine as a new “date rape” drug, putting it alongside the likes of Rohypnol and Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB). Ketamine quickly produces a euphoric high, followed by dissociation and amnesia. Overdoses can prove fatal, as the drug slows breathing.
Although the Dallas Police Department has managed to curb violent crime citywide, drug offenses are one of several categories of crime that remain alarmingly high. As of May 15, there have been 4,144 drug or narcotic violations logged for a year-over-year increase of 9.9%, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard.
Dallas City Council Districts 2, 6, and 7, represented by Council Members Jesse Moreno, Omar Narvaez, and Adam Bazaldua, respectively, saw the highest number of reports filed.
DPD has been laboring against a critical officer shortage, with only around 3,000 sworn officers deployed despite a City report calling for closer to 4,000. Alongside this shortfall, DPD was budgeted just $654 million this fiscal year, with City leaders opting to direct far fewer tax dollars towards policing than other high-crime municipalities.