TSA Officers Find ,750 in Cocaine Hidden in Coffee Container

TSA Officers Find $27,750 in Cocaine Hidden in Coffee Container

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TSA officers discovered nearly $28,000 worth of suspected cocaine hidden inside a coffee container in a traveler’s luggage on Nov. 11, Fox News reported.

The discovery occurred during a secondary baggage screening at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Officers noticed a white, chalky substance while inspecting the bag, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

The investigation into the incident affects regional drug enforcement. Because the drugs were destined for remote areas, the seizure represents a disruption in a specific supply chain that serves northwestern Alaska.

Investigators from the Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team responded to the scene at approximately 6:55 a.m. They identified the luggage as belonging to Walter Berry, a 58-year-old resident of Selawik, Alaska.

The scale of the seizure

The substance weighed approximately 185 grams, which is less than half a pound. After a field test, the substance tested positive for cocaine, authorities said.

While the physical weight may seem small, the economic impact in rural Alaska is substantial. Officials estimated the street value of the drugs at $27,750 in the Kotzebue and Selawik communities.

Berry was intercepted at the departure gate as he prepared to board a flight from Anchorage to Kotzebue. His intended final destination was Selawik, officials noted.

Authorities determined that Berry had possession of the luggage before it was checked for the flight. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Anchorage Correctional Complex on a charge of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, according to the department.

The investigation continues with assistance from the Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team. The Alaska Department of Public Safety and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport have not provided further comments to Fox News Digital regarding the ongoing probe.

Aerial view of ted stevens international airport anchorage alaska

Security trends at US airports

This incident follows a string of unusual items flagged by security personnel across the country. These cases highlight the varying types of contraband that pass through X-ray machines daily.

In a separate case at New York’s Watertown International Airport, TSA officers identified a spent M18 smoke grenade hidden inside an aerosol container. In Tampa, an officer discovered a 4-inch, double-edged knife concealed within a flashlight shaped like a baseball bat.

Security experts suggest these attempts to bypass protocols are often futile due to the advanced imaging technology used in modern checkpoints.

“Do not try to test the system,” Keith Jeffries, a Florida-based vice president of K2 Security Screening Group and former federal security director for TSA at Los Angeles International Airport, told Fox News Digital. “If you do, you will be caught.”

The ability of officers to detect non-obvious items—such as substances disguised as food products or tools disguised as electronics—remains a core component of the Transportation Security Administration’s screening mandate.

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