Suspicious substance found in the White House turned out to be drugs

Laboratory tests for the suspected substance found at the White House on July 2 have been completed, according to officials speaking to US media, who have not been identified. Consequently, the substance was determined to be cocaine.

The suspicious white substance was found in an area near the West Wing, where White House staff had access to visitors.

Tours of the White House are arranged for visitors, usually on weekends and in the evening.

Visitors pass through security checks before entering the White House complex and then deposit their phones in small boxes before heading to the West Wing. Authorities reported that the substance was found near these boxes.

The Secret Service has yet to confirm whether visitors entered the White House on the weekend the substance was found.

While the investigation into how and by whom the cocaine was brought into the White House continues, no official statement has yet been made from the White House.

WHAT HAPPENED?

US President Joe Biden, who spent the weekend at Camp David, returned to the White House on Tuesday for Independence Day celebrations.

Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said the incident prompted a brief evacuation at the White House.

Noting that the substance was found during routine checks in the building, Guglielmi stated that the Washington DC fire department determined that the substance did not pose a threat. (AA)