Crime Task Force Disrupts ‘Cocaine Plywood’ Operation

Yes, you read that right: Cocaine plywood is a thing, along with lumber and timber, part of a growing trend of drug gangs to soak liquid cocaine into wood products, concealing the drug during shipment then reconstituting it at its destination. Irish customs officials, as part of an effort that included multiple countries and law enforcement groups, recently seized more than 150 pounds of the drug along with a mobile cocaine processing lab set up in a truck trailer and “infused” plywood panels ready for processing. After shipping the product, drug traffickers then grind it up and use chemicals and solvents to extract the cocaine back into powder form. Ireland is just the latest location for cocaine-infused forest product seizures. According to news reports, earlier this year Australian authorities seized six tons of timber planks they estimated contained 220 lbs. of cocaine soaked in. In August, Spanish authorities announced they had dismantled four cocaine processing labs used to extract cocaine from wood and other products. And in South America, Chilean and Bolivian officials are arguing about a shipment of hardwood that Chilean authorities say has cocaine in it but Bolivia says it’s a false positive.

The facility uses the latest generation DUOZINK 12 finger-jointing machine. The line is complemented by a newly developed block storage system with fully automatic destacking. A hydraulic TimberPress V 220 flex is used to manufacture straight GLT up to 60 ft. in length. The pressing force is applied from above, ensuring a uniform, high-quality bond. A downstream finishing planer then performs the necessary planing for standard beams and block-glued beams.

One focus of the project is the production of curved structural beams. In collaboration with Arbonis, Minda developed the new TimberPress C 500 flex. This machine enables the cost-effective production of curved glulam beams up to 147 ft. in length.

The pressing concept differs significantly from conventional methods: The packages to be pressed—consisting of up to two beams—are loaded into the press bed by crane. The press automatically shapes the press package before the tie rods are tightened. Afterward, the shaped press package is placed next to the press, where it can cure, creating a continuous and flexible production flow throughout the shift.

The entire manufacturing process is controlled by Minda’s intuitive FlowMate user interface which supports employees through every step of the process and provides a transparent overview of the entire production process. 

Installation at Arbonis is currently ongoing. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2027. This project will not only create new production capacity for the French market but also deliver innovative solutions to drive the sustainable advancement of glued laminated timber manufacturing.