According to an article in the British newspaper The Independent on August 8, officials from the U.S. Department of Defense said that the U.S. Air Force used one of the largest strategic transport aircraft in service to transport 50 tons of seized illegal drugs from California to the central United States, completing the final destruction process.
According to reports, the C-5M ‘Super Galaxy’ transport aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin was used to transport drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine (commonly known as crystal meth), and fentanyl. This aircraft is capable of transporting oversized cargo and heavy equipment that cannot be carried by other platforms, with a total load capacity of 281,001 pounds.
Due to recent closures of several large hazardous material destruction sites due to environmental requirements, law enforcement agencies have accumulated a large number of seized contraband items.
The head of the Forensic Science Office at the United States Drug Enforcement Administration said, “If we weren’t working with the Air Force, we would have to transport this material across several states by road. It would require a lot of manpower and take several days to complete. Drugs on the streets are equivalent to cash, and this is definitely a task that requires a high level of security.”
