Customs officers find cocaine shipped with wine at Port Newark, NJ

NEWARK (WABC) -- Authorities discovered dozens of pounds of cocaine that were concealed aboard a vessel bringing a shipment of wine to Port Newark.

U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized the cocaine from a black duffle bag inside a shipping container.

The container arrived from Panama aboard the vessel MSC FEDERICA, and was manifested as containing 1,050 cartons of wine.

The container was chosen for inspection during a routine tactical maritime operation.

The container originated in Australia and was then loaded on the vessel to be discharged in Port Newark.

During the unloading of the containers from the vessel, CBP officers opened the duffel bag, and discovered duct-taped brick shaped objects that tested positive for cocaine.

A total of 13 bricks with a weight of 35 pounds of cocaine were discovered.