One traveler coming through John F. Kennedy International Airport had more than just a tasty treat in her suitcase.
On Tuesday, Jan. 17, Chantal Alecia Bedward, a citizen of Jamaica, arrived at JFK Airport from Kingston, Jamaica, when she was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. As they were examining her bag, they found a box of Tastee Brand Jamaican Beef Patties.
The CBP officers took Bedward into a private search room and opened the box, revealing 12 duct-taped packages. The packages were probed and a white powder was produced, which tested positive as cocaine. Bedward was arrested for the importation of a controlled substance and was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.
The approximate weight of the cocaine that was seized was 4 pounds and its estimated street value is $70,000.
“This seizure demonstrates the vigilance and dedication demonstrated daily by CBP officers at JFK, in keeping these prohibited and dangerous narcotics off the streets of our communities,” said Robert E. Perez, director of field operations in New York for CBP.
Bedward faces federal charges of narcotics smuggling and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York.
