Two years after the U.S. Secret Service found a bag of cocaine in the White House in July 2023, newly released documents indicating that the substance was ordered to be destroyed within 24 hours of the case’s closure are raising new concerns regarding the thoroughness of the investigation.
A document from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration titled “Destruction” confirms that the bag of cocaine discovered at the White House was sent to the Metropolitan Police Department for incineration, as reported by Real Clear Politics. This document, acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request, does not specify a date for the destruction.
Nevertheless, internal records from the Secret Service show that the substance was tested by the Secret Service, D.C. Fire Department hazmat technicians, and the FBI before being returned to Secret Service custody for storage on July 12. Merely two days later, it was transferred to D.C. police for destruction. The Secret Service officially concluded the cocaine investigation 11 days after the substance was found, according to the report.
The destruction of narcotics evidence must adhere to strict environmental and safety regulations, and the D.C. police department utilizes an Environmental Protection Agency-approved incinerator that is regularly employed by federal agencies to dispose of narcotics not associated with ongoing legal proceedings.
