Fentanyl-laced heroin, marijuana found at Port of Wilmington during Wednesday search

A multi-agency search at the Port of Wilmington Wednesday led to the arrest of three men and the seizure of marijuana and fentanyl-laced heroin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Friday.

The search was considered a "random compliance examination," according to the agency, and is aimed at cracking down on what is smuggled in and out through the port.

“This compliance examination of federally bonded warehouses at the Port of Wilmington is designed to ensure compliance with federal port security regulations, to detect and disrupt the smuggling of illicit contraband and humans through the seaport environment, to improve working relationships between the pier and participating law enforcement agencies, and to identify and protect our nation and our citizens against all potential threats,” said Joseph Martella, CBP Area port director for the Area Port of Philadelphia.

Authorities arrested one man who they say was in possession of a "distributable amount" of fentanyl-laced heroin – which state health officials have warned about due to its prevalence in fatal overdoses. 

Police also found 62 grams – a little more than two ounces – of marijuana in the possession of two other men near a port warehouse. The men were not arrested, but they were removed from the property, according to the agency.

When authorities reviewed the Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards of arriving port workers, they found two men with outstanding Delaware arrest warrants, according to the agency.

These men, whose names were not released, were arrested by Delaware State Police.

Steve Sapp, a spokesman with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said the partner agencies involved in this investigation asked the agency to withhold the names of those arrested to not affect other investigations.

Agencies involved in the search included Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Delaware State Police, and Delaware National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. 

Two days after the search, the port was evacuated after a crash caused about 500 gallons of fuel to spill Friday morning. There were no injuries and the spill was contained, according to the Wilmington Fire Department.