More than 200 pounds of cocaine seized at Port of Hueneme

In the largest drug bust in 25 years at the Port of Hueneme, federal authorities seized more than 200 pounds of cocaine hidden aboard two cargo ships carrying produce from Central and South America.

The first drug interception took place Jan. 22 when authorities conducted an enforcement boarding on a refrigerated cargo vessel that arrived from Ecuador. During the search, officers found 80 parcels of cocaine concealed in the floorboards of the ship. The parcels contained 204.2 pounds of cocaine, authorities said.

MORE:Why landmark cocaine bust at Port of Hueneme was 'a big shock'

hen on Jan. 28, a produce vessel arriving from Guatemala was also found to be carrying cocaine hidden in the floorboards. This haul totaled 17.5 pounds.

The investigation into the two vessels was conducted by officers from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations.

In total, 221.7 pounds of cocaine were seized.

LaFonda Sutton-Burke, the Customs and Border Protection port director for the Port of Hueneme, said it was the largest drug seizure at the port in a quarter century.

“I’m extremely proud of the results of this joint effort,” Sutton-Burke said in a statement. “It shows the professionalism, vigilance and keen focus of both agencies in preventing dangerous drugs into our communities.”

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The port — the largest deepwater port between San Francisco and Los Angeles — is overseen by the Oxnard Harbor District’s board of elected officials. 

It is well-known for imports of bananas from Latin America — spawning an annual banana festival at the port — as well as cars from elsewhere and bulk liquids. The Department of Homeland Security didn't specify what kind of produce was on the vessels that contained the cocaine. 

The port website lists two ships for each of the days of the cocaine bust. It was not clear which ships the cocaine was found on.

The seizure came around the same time as another notable drug bust on ships in Southern California. 

“As drug traffickers get more creative, we are working round-the clock with CBP and our law enforcement partners to stop this activity,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles.

“HSI is generating a significant amount of intelligence in this investigation, which we will use to identify, disrupt and ultimately dismantle the criminal organization behind this scheme,” Macias said.

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In mid-January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 3,800 pounds of methamphetamine plus smaller amounts of cocaine and heroin at the Los Angeles-Long Beach seaport that was bound for Australia. It was the largest single seizure of meth in the U.S. The drugs were hidden in metal boxes labeled as loudspeakers. Australian authorities said it was also the largest haul of the drug intercepted while bound for Australia and would have provided around 17 million hits of ice meth.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is charged with securing the nation’s borders and facilitating international travel and trade, while HSI is an investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.