US Secret Service: Unknown Substance Found at White House Confirmed to be Cocaine, Investigation Closed Due to Lack of Physical Evidence

On the evening of July 2, the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division discovered an unknown substance inside a vestibule leading to the lobby area of the West Executive Avenue entrance to the White House.

The substance was found in a receptacle used to temporarily store electronic and personal devices prior to entering the West Wing.

As a precautionary measure, safety closures were implemented around the White House to ensure the substance did not pose a security threat. Field tests indicated that the substance was not a hazardous compound.

Further testing by the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department revealed that the powder preliminarily tested positive for cocaine. The substance and packaging were treated as evidence and sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center for analysis, which confirmed the substance was not biological in nature.

The substance and packaging underwent additional forensic testing, including chemical composition analysis and advanced fingerprint and DNA analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s crime laboratory. However, the results did not yield latent fingerprints and the DNA present was insufficient for investigative comparisons.

The Secret Service conducted a thorough investigation, reviewing security systems and protocols, and examining individuals who may have accessed the area where the substance was found. However, without physical evidence or surveillance video footage to identify the depositor of the substance, the investigation has been closed due to a lack of conclusive evidence.

The U.S. Secret Service remains committed to its mission of protecting U.S. leaders, facilities, and events and continues to adapt to the evolving security environment.

U.S. Secret Service Media Relations July 13, 2023