28 Pounds of Cocaine Found on Cruise Ship Docked in San Francisco, 3 Passengers Arrested

After finding 28 pounds of cocaine in their cruise ship cabins, a New Zealand couple and an Australian man have been arrested on arrival in San Francisco. The drugs were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Customs officials report that the ship docked at Pier 35 in late January after returning from a Caribbean cruise. U.S. Customs agents checked the cabins as a routine procedure at San Francisco’s port. More than 17 pounds of the illegal substance was hidden in a suitcase belonging to the 27-year-old Australian native.

Another 12.5 pounds of cocaine was found in the cabin shared by the New Zealand citizens, according the agents’ report. Federal documents state that all three passengers were booked for investigation of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The ship involved is reported to be the P&O Aurora, which is on its 2012 world cruise and is currently in New Zealand. Cruise line representatives are not at liberty to comment at this time, as the investigation is still ongoing. The amount of cocaine found is worth around $1 million.