TSA Officers Seize Cocaine Hidden in Coffee Container at Anchorage Airport

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers discovered suspected cocaine hidden in a coffee container at the Anchorage airport in Alaska. The total weight of the find was about 185 grams, or less than half a pound, with an estimated street value of $27,750.

The drug was found on November 11 during additional baggage screening. TSA officers noticed a white powdery substance in the container and called in the Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team, which arrived at approximately 6:55 a.m. A field test came back positive for cocaine.

The owner of the luggage was 58-year-old Walter Berry, a resident of the village of Selawik, Alaska. According to investigators, he had possession of the bag before it was checked. He was detained at the boarding gate before a flight from Anchorage to Kotzebue, the destination of which is Selawik. Investigators believe the drug was intended for the markets of Kotzebue and Selawik in the northwestern part of the state.

Berry has been arrested and is being held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. He has been charged with a third-degree controlled substance offense. The investigation is continuing jointly with the Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team. Fox News Digital sent requests for comment to the airport and the state police, but no responses had been received at the time of publication.

The case comes amid other incidents involving baggage screening. In Watertown, New York, a used M18 smoke grenade was found in a passenger's carry-on bag, which he said he had forgotten to remove from the bag. An explosives specialist confirmed the grenade was inactive. In Tampa, officers found a double-edged knife about 4 inches long hidden inside a flashlight shaped like a baseball bat.

Kit Jeffries, vice president of K2 Security Screening Group and a former TSA employee in Los Angeles, warns travelers against attempting to test the screening system. According to him, such attempts can lead to serious consequences for those who make them.

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Derek Weston

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Derek Weston covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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