Officials Seize About 22 Lbs. Of Cocaine Disguised As Baking Powder At Airport
JAMAICA, NY (CBS) – Officials say a passenger was looking bake more than just a cake as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport found cocaine in a woman's suitcase.
Authorities say on June 6, CBP officers stopped Alizah Zaneshia Henry, who was arriving on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana via Port of Spain Trinidad.
Officials say during an inspection, CBP officers removed one of numerous plastic bags labeled "Champion Baking Power" from her checked suitcase.
Officers escorted Henry to a private search room where the baking power was probed and found to be cocaine.
Authorities say Henry was arrested for the import of a controlled substance and was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.
Officials say approximately 22 pounds of cocaine was seized.
"Cocaine is a dangerous narcotic, and CBP does its part in keeping these drugs off the streets." said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP's New York Field Operations
Officials say Henry now faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's office in the U.S. Eastern District of New York.