NATION IN BRIEF : NEW YORK : 5 Tons of Cocaine Found in Warehouse
After a week of sifting through barrels of lye in a warehouse, federal drug agents announced they had turned up more than 5 tons of cocaine--one of the largest seizures in U.S. history. The cocaine--valued at nearly $852 million--was wrapped in plastic and topped with 6 inches of powder that turned out to be a 98% concentration of sodium hydroxide, an extremely caustic lye. To remove the cocaine, officials wore “moon suits”--oxygen masks, 40-pound air tanks and protective suits, the sleeves sealed with tape to two pairs of gloves. The cocaine was discovered Nov. 3 during a raid. Investigators were searching for five suspects who they believe are linked to Colombia’s Cali drug cartel.
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