January 3, 2009Right Side News Reports
Newark, N.J. - On New Year's Eve, Customs and Border Protection officers at Newark Liberty International Airport arrested Yaneira Perdomo, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, and seized six canned goods containing cocaine.
CBP officers selected Ms. Perdomo for a baggage exam after she had arrived on a flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ms. Perdomo told CBP officers that she was moving back to the U.S. and presented one suitcase for inspection. During the examination of the suitcase, CBP officers discovered two cans of mixed vegetables, two cans of coconut, and two cans of corn. After noticing the unusual heaviness of the cans, CBP officers opened the cans which revealed a sealed plastic container. The container was probed producing a white powdery substance which field tested positive for cocaine.
A total of six cans containing 4.3 pounds of cocaine were seized. The cocaine has a street value of over $200,000. Ms. Perdomo was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for federal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey located in downtown Newark.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Robert E. Perez said, "This case demonstrates the complex methods that these smuggling organizations will utilize to illegally import dangerous drugs into the U.S. as well as the meticulous efforts of our CBP officers to identify and dismantle these illicit operations at the ports of entry."
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
