PHOTO: Federal authorities seized an approximate total of 8 pounds of cocaine from two passengers in two days at JFK Airport earlier this month. Photo Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
By Michael V. Cusenza
While we haven’t seen much snow on borough streets this month, federal authorities have confiscated plenty of the other white stuff over the past couple of weeks at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
On March 5, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted passenger Elisabethmone Lewis, a U.S. citizen, arriving from St. Lucia. When Customs cops searched her belongings they noticed that the bottom of her suitcase was unusually thick.
Lewis was escorted to a private search room in which her checked-in luggage was probed, revealing a white powder that tested positive for cocaine. She was allegedly attempting to smuggle approximately 3 pounds of coke with an estimated street value of $59,000.
The next day, Customs intercepted Anne Cadet, a Haitian citizen arriving in New York from her homeland. Officers who were examining her bags noticed that the bottom of her suitcase was unusually bulky.
Just like Lewis, Cadet was escorted to a private search room in which her checked-in suitcase was scrutinized, revealing a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.
Cadet was attempting to smuggle approximately 5 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $77,000.
Lewis and Cadet were arrested and charged with the importation of a controlled substance and then turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.
“These seizures demonstrate our officers’ vigilance and daily commitment at JFK in keeping prohibited and dangerous narcotics off the streets and out of our communities,” said Robert Perez, director, Field Operations in New York for CBP.
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
