Dulles Agents Thwart Cocaine-Filled Clam Smuggling Effort
http://www.leesburg2day.com/news/article_a24af544-da35-11e0-9756-001cc4c03286.html

Customs and Border Protection officers at Dulles Airport nabbed an alleged drug smuggler from El Salvador man Saturday after officers discovered 15 baggies of cocaine concealed in clams packed inside the suspect's luggage.

David Pocasangre Vaquiz, 26, was found to be in possession of 152 grams of cocaine valued at about $10,000.

"Smugglers attempt all types of creative concealment methods to sneak their deadly poison into the United States and this is one of the oddest we've seen," Christopher Hess, CBP Port Director for the Port of Washington, DC, stated in an announcement of the arrest. "This passenger took an enormous risk for only five ounces of cocaine and he now faces very serious narcotics smuggling charges."

Pocasangre Vaquiz arrived at the airport shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday and was referred to a routine secondary inspection. CBP officers found a black plastic bag containing approximately 80 clams inside his luggage. An officer opened one clam and found the first plastic baggie. An X-ray revealed 14 additional cocaine-concealing clams. The 15 clams appeared to have been opened, stuffed with the packaged cocaine and glued closed.

Pocasangre Vaquiz was turned over to local authorities for prosecution and also is subject to a CBP detainer upon adjudication of the charges.
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Let's see....hide the drugs inside imported items that have been warned about on the Customs site:

>>> "...CBP recommends that you contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before
>>> you depart if you plan to import or export any of the following:
>>>
>>> Wild birds, land or marine mammals, reptiles, fish, shellfish, mollusks or
>>> invertebrates;
>>>
>>> Any part or product of the above, such as skins, tusks, bone, feathers, or
>>> eggs; or
>>>
>>> Products or articles manufactured from wildlife or fish.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml

Yeah...that oughta work!

Any update on the clams? Our fryer is still awaiting delivery in time for the regular Friday evening crunch... help!

Man tries to smuggle cocaine inside clams at Dulles
Thursday - 9/8/2011, 12:34pm ET
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=159&sid=2534820

WASHINGTON - In the latest attempt to sneak drugs across the U.S. border, a man from El Salvador concealed 15 bags of cocaine in clams at Washington Dulles International Airport. Authorities found the stash hidden inside the man's luggage.

Officials seized a combined 152 grams of the narcotic from David Rene Pocasangre Vaquiz, 26. The approximate street value of the drugs is about $10,000.

"Smugglers attempt all types of creative concealment methods to sneak their deadly poison into the United States and this is one of the oddest we've seen," says Christopher Hess, Customs and Border Protection port director for D.C.

Pocasangre Vaquiz arrived at Dulles about 2 a.m. Saturday from Panama, says Steve Sapp from the Department of Homeland Security. He was headed for Maryland, but was first stopped for a routine inspection.

Customs agents found a black plastic bag containing approximately 80 clams. Hidden inside the first clam opened by officials was cocaine. An X-ray revealed 14 more such clams, which had been pried opened, stuffed with drugs and glued shut.

"It could very well be that they were experimenting with that method," Sapp says. "We don't think they will try that again."

Pocasangre Vaquiz is being charged with transporting narcotics into Virginia and possession with intent to distribute. His preliminary hearing is Oct. 5. He is being held without bond.
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If that was in the clams, imagine what was in the Oysters!

So, are clams allowable entry into this country from foreign countries?
And who would want to eat a clam that was stuffed into luggage for hours? Yuck!
And talk about the smell! I would hate to have my luggage sitting next to his in the belly of the plane!