A woman was arrested Tuesday at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers allegedly found more than $55,000 worth of cocaine in her computer bag.
CBP officers stopped Ortega Tejada on Sept. 9, who was arriving on a flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, according to officials.
During the course of the inspection, CBP officers noticed the computer bag was unusually heavy and the sides were thicker than normal, officials said.
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Officers at JFK probed Tejada’s computer bag and discovered a white powdery substance which tested positive for cocaine, officials said.
Tejada was arrested for the importation of a controlled substance and was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.
According to officials, the total weight of cocaine seized was approximately 3.3 pounds with an approximate street value of more than $55,000.
“This latest seizure demonstrates the vigilance of our CBP officers, and their excellence in detecting those who would try to smuggle these illegal substances,” Robert E. Perez, CBP’s Director of Field Operations New York, said in a release.
Tejada faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York.
All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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