New York ( CNN ) -- More than 35 pounds of cocaine was discovered in at least one bag that turned up at the United Nations headquarters in New York , police said Thursday . The narcotics were uncovered on January 16 inside hollowed-out books that had been shipped from Mexico City in a bag made to look like a diplomatic pouch , according to New York police spokesman Paul Browne . `` The actual pouch is blue and has a U.N. symbol , a lock and seal , and words like `` Diplomatic Mail , '' Browne said . `` This bag was white instead of blue and had no locked seal and no wording of any kind . '' The bag was being screened at the United Nations ' postal receiving center when the cocaine was discovered . It lacked a destination address and was without a return address , Browne added . U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said , `` This was not connected to the United Nations , and that 's why the host government , the city authorities , in the shape of the NYPD , were brought in to assist . '' He said that it `` was not a diplomatic pouch . '' In a written statement , Nesirky noted that `` two suspicious mail bags were intercepted . '' Authorities have not located the intended recipient , he said .
The documents were delivered January 16 inside hollowed - out boxes . They had been shipped from Mexico City in a bag made to look like a diplomatic pouch . It lacked a destination number and was without a return address . Police have not located the intended buyer .