Puerto Cortes, Honduras - Law enforcement intercepted thousands of pieces of wood, concealing approximately 423 kilograms of cocaine, in Honduras December 22. The interception was part of a multi-agency law enforcement effort targeting transnational drug trafficking organizations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Attaché Office in Honduras, the Honduran National Police's Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) participated in the enforcement effort.

The contraband was concealed within five containers holding more than 3,000 pieces of wood. The shipment was sent from Colombia to Honduras. Wood is normally exported out of Honduras not imported.

Three additional containers must still be inspected, but law enforcement authorities expect to discover more contraband. To date, no arrests have been made, but the investigation continues.

“Transnational drug trafficking organizations will go to any length to get their filth onto our streets,” said Richard Rodriguez, HSI assistant attaché in Honduras. “With this recent seizure, we deal an important blow to these criminals. We also send a message that the global law enforcement community remains united in attacking them.”

Through ICE's Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has 67 attaché offices in 48 countries around the world. HSI special agents work closely with foreign law enforcement agencies and through a robust network of specialized, vetted units known as Transnational Criminal Investigative Units.