Police in Providence, Rhode Island, say an unmarked car that officers had been driving for several years came with a surprise - 2.27kg cocaine hidden behind the radio.
Deputy Police Chief Paul Kennedy says the Ford Taurus was confiscated from a drug dealer in 2000.
Kennedy says police do search for contraband in confiscated vehicles but sometimes they "miss stuff".
Three packages of cocaine were found behind the dashboard about three weeks ago by a repairman who was using the car for spare parts.
Police estimated the stash would be worth almost A8,043 on the street.
Kennedy said it was unlikely anyone would face charges over the concealed coke.