COCAINE FOUND IN FRUIT PULP ABOARD SHIP

In another creative attempt to hide drugs, smugglers concealed more than
1,500 pounds of cocaine inside frozen boxes of fruit pulp aboard a
Netherlands-flagged ship that docked at the port of Houston on Monday, the
U.S. Customs Service said.

"The seizure is unique because of the type of concealment. Clearly, this is
the first time we've seen this in Houston," U.S. Customs spokeswoman Judy
Turner said.

Customs agents targeted the vessel Astor for inspection because it arrived
from Venezuela, known as a "drug-source country," Turner said.

Fifteen containers were put through a mobile X-ray machine and one
refrigerated container was manually searched. That container was loaded
with more than 2,000 boxes of frozen fruit pulp.

When inspectors opened boxes containing guava fruit pulp, they found
plastic bags one inch thick containing cocaine, customs said.

No arrests have been made, but the investigation is continuing.