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US Customs: Over 30 Pounds Of Opium Powder Seized At MSP Airport

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Over 30 pounds of opium powder has been seized at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Tuesday.

On Friday, CBP officers discovered the illegal substance inside the passenger bag of a 35-year-old woman, who arrived from Laos via Tokyo.

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(credit: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office)

CBP officials say the woman had an unusually large amount of dried beverage power inside her bag. When they opened a packet that was listed as green tea mix, they found a brown powder that tested positive for the presence of opium.

A total of 33.5 pounds of opium was collected and seized.

"Our officers are committed to keeping our nation safe. This interception is an example of their hard work to keep narcotics off the streets," Minneapolis Area Port Director Jennifer De La O said.

The woman was arrested and turned over to local authorities for prosecution.

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