Photo courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

More than 424 pounds of cocaine were seized on Saturday at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced.

CBP officers detected the drugs on Saturday, August 22, during an enforcement operation using non-intrusive inspection technology, which is like an x-ray that can detect anomalies—such as unusual density or shapes—in containers, according to a press release.

During the inspection of a shipment of tires originating from South America, officers identified an inconsistency within the x-ray images.

Concealed inside the shipment were three large bundles that held 170 individual brick-sized packages containing cocaine, officials stated.

“Without any doubt, this is one of the most significant narcotics interception in recent years at our nation’s largest seaport,” said Carlos Martel, CBP Port Director of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. “I commend the extraordinary commitment and dedication of CBP officers whose vigilance resulted in this successful seizure.”

In 2014, CBP personnel seized more than 3.8 million pounds of narcotics across the country. The seizures included cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, hashish, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and steroids.

“Narcotics interdiction remains a top Customs and Border Protection enforcement priority, and this case illustrates how CBP officers use a combination of advanced inspectional skills and non-intrusive inspection technology to intercept dangerous drugs and to help keep our communities and citizens safe,” added Martel.