A New York man going through customs at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was caught with 10 pounds of cocaine taped to his legs, officials alleged Friday.
Juan Carlos Galan Luperon, 28, of Manhattan supposedly looked nervous and his pants “appeared to be rather snug” when he arrived from the Dominican Republic on Saturday. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents took the 28-year-old to a private room where they found packages of white powder taped to each leg, according to Newsday.
Agents carried out a test and confirmed the powder was cocaine. The agency estimated the cocaine had a street value of $164,000.
“This seizure is another example of our CBP officers being ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of these illicit drugs,” Leon Hayward, Acting Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations, told CBS New York.
NJ.com reported that Galan Lupeon is facing federal narcotics smuggling charges. He will be prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
If hiding coke in pants wasn’t enough, a Jamaican woman was caught at JFK trying to smuggle four pounds of cocaine in a beef patty box in January.
Customs agents reportedly retrieved a box of Tastee Brand Jamaican Beef Patties in Chantal Alecia Bedward’s luggage. Upon inspection, they found the box contained 12 duct taped packages of cocaine. Authorities determined the cocaine was valued at $70,000.
Bedward was arrested for the importation of a controlled substance and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations. She also faces narcotics smuggling charges.
[Feature Photo: US Customs and Border Protection]