Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airport
NEW YORK (AP) — Customs officers at New York’s Kennedy International Airport seized $450,000 worth of cocaine from a traveler who was smuggling the drugs in the wheels of her wheelchair, federal authorities announced.
The bust happened Nov. 10 when Customs and Border Patrol officers stopped a woman traveling from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with a wheelchair whose wheels weren’t turning, agency officials said.
The officers X-rayed the wheelchair and noticed an “anomaly” in all four wheels, CPB officials said in a news release. Officers checked the tires and found a white powder that tested positive for cocaine, they said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP
This photo provided by U. S. Customs and Border Protection shows cocaine seized by customs officers from a traveler who was smuggling the drugs in the wheels of her wheelchair at New York's Kennedy International Airport.
A total of 28 pounds (12.7 kilos) of cocaine with a street value of $450,000 was removed from the wheels, officials said.
The woman, a Dominican citizen named Emelinda Paulino De Rivas, was arrested on smuggling charges and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations. It wasn’t clear if she had an attorney who could comment.
“CBP stands steadfast and determined in working with our partners to identify the trans-national criminal networks responsible for importing these deadly drugs into our neighborhoods,” said Francis J. Russo, director of CBP’s New York field operations. “CBP’s mission is to guard the borders and ports of entry 24/7, 365 days a year to prevent these dangerous drugs from potentially killing our family, friends, and neighbors.”
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportAjeng Dinar Ulfiana
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as they disembark their plane upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Pool Photo via AP)
Ajeng Dinar UlfianaChinese President Xi Jinping waves as they disembark their plane upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Pool Photo via AP)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportKhalil Hamra
People put flowers over a memorial placed on the spot of Sunday's explosion on Istanbul's popular pedestrian Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Police have arrested a suspect who is believed to have planted the bomb that exploded on a bustling pedestrian avenue in Istanbul, Turkey’s interior minister said Monday, adding that initial findings indicate that Kurdish militants were responsible for the deadly attack.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Khalil HamraPeople put flowers over a memorial placed on the spot of Sunday's explosion on Istanbul's popular pedestrian Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Police have arrested a suspect who is believed to have planted the bomb that exploded on a bustling pedestrian avenue in Istanbul, Turkey’s interior minister said Monday, adding that initial findings indicate that Kurdish militants were responsible for the deadly attack.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportAlex Brandon
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex BrandonU.S. President Joe Biden, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportAlex Brandon
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping reach out to shake hands before their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex BrandonU.S. President Joe Biden, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping reach out to shake hands before their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportArmin Durgut
General view of the city during a sunset as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Armin DurgutGeneral view of the city during a sunset as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportFrank Augstein
A soldiers falls off a horse as the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive at Green Park to fire a 41 Gun Royal Salute to mark the 74th birthday of King Charles III in London, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Frank AugsteinA soldiers falls off a horse as the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive at Green Park to fire a 41 Gun Royal Salute to mark the 74th birthday of King Charles III in London, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportFrank Augstein
The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a 41 Gun Royal Salutes to celebrate the King's Birthday at Green Park in London, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Frank AugsteinThe King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a 41 Gun Royal Salutes to celebrate the King's Birthday at Green Park in London, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportJ. Scott Applewhite
The Capitol is seen as Congress resumes following a long break for the midterm elections, in Washington, early Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Lawmakers are returning to an extremely volatile post-election landscape, with control of the House still undecided, party leadership in flux and a potentially consequential lame-duck session. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
J. Scott ApplewhiteThe Capitol is seen as Congress resumes following a long break for the midterm elections, in Washington, early Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Lawmakers are returning to an extremely volatile post-election landscape, with control of the House still undecided, party leadership in flux and a potentially consequential lame-duck session. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportBrian Inganga
Letoyie Leroshi, a Samburu man gives cows water from a well in Kom village, Samburu County, Kenya, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Generations of East Africans have tapped groundwater in the desert to survive in parched lands as droughts are worsening due to climate change. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Brian IngangaLetoyie Leroshi, a Samburu man gives cows water from a well in Kom village, Samburu County, Kenya, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Generations of East Africans have tapped groundwater in the desert to survive in parched lands as droughts are worsening due to climate change. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportNariman El-Mofty
A woman leaves after attending a panel on Indigenous Women from the Amazon, at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Nariman El-MoftyA woman leaves after attending a panel on Indigenous Women from the Amazon, at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportPeter Dejong
Youth climate activists hold signs that read "from COP27 to G20 fight for 1.5" at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Peter DejongYouth climate activists hold signs that read "from COP27 to G20 fight for 1.5" at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportChristophe Ena
Mascots of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, right, and Paralympics Games, a Phrygian cap, jump during a preview in Saint Denis, outside Paris, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. The soft bright red cap, also known as a liberty cap, is an updated version of a conical hat worn in antiquity in places such as Persia, the Balkans, Thrace, Dacia and Phrygia, where the name originates, in modern day Turkey. It later became a symbol of the pursuit of liberty in the French Revolution and is still worn by the figure of Marianne, the national personification of France since that time. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Christophe EnaMascots of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, right, and Paralympics Games, a Phrygian cap, jump during a preview in Saint Denis, outside Paris, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. The soft bright red cap, also known as a liberty cap, is an updated version of a conical hat worn in antiquity in places such as Persia, the Balkans, Thrace, Dacia and Phrygia, where the name originates, in modern day Turkey. It later became a symbol of the pursuit of liberty in the French Revolution and is still worn by the figure of Marianne, the national personification of France since that time. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportAchmad Ibrahim
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during their bilateral meeting ahead of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Achmad IbrahimU.S. President Joe Biden, left, talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during their bilateral meeting ahead of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportAaron Favila
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during the B20 Summit ahead of the G20 leaders summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Aaron FavilaCanada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during the B20 Summit ahead of the G20 leaders summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportFirdia Lisnawati
French President Emmanuel Macron gives a thumb up sign as he prepares to board his car upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Firdia LisnawatiFrench President Emmanuel Macron gives a thumb up sign as he prepares to board his car upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportFirdia Lisnawati
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disembarks from his plane upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Firdia LisnawatiCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disembarks from his plane upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportAntonio Calanni
In this photo taken with slow shutter speed, Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Russia's Andrey Rublev during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Antonio CalanniIn this photo taken with slow shutter speed, Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Russia's Andrey Rublev during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals, at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportBernat Armangue
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky guarded by soldiers, gives a speech in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Ukraine's retaking of Kherson was a significant setback for the Kremlin and it came some six weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed the Kherson region and three other provinces in southern and eastern Ukraine — in breach of international law — and declared them Russian territory. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Bernat ArmangueUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky guarded by soldiers, gives a speech in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Ukraine's retaking of Kherson was a significant setback for the Kremlin and it came some six weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed the Kherson region and three other provinces in southern and eastern Ukraine — in breach of international law — and declared them Russian territory. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportBernat Armangue
A Kherson resident hugs a Ukrainian defence force member in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Bernat ArmangueA Kherson resident hugs a Ukrainian defence force member in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportBernat Armangue
Residents gather next to an internet hotspot in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Bernat ArmangueResidents gather next to an internet hotspot in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportBernat Armangue
A Kherson resident hugs a Ukrainian defence force member in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Bernat ArmangueA Kherson resident hugs a Ukrainian defence force member in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportBernat Armangue
Residents gather next to an internet hotspot in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Bernat ArmangueResidents gather next to an internet hotspot in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. The retaking of Kherson was one of Ukraine's biggest successes in the nearly nine months since Moscow's invasion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportEranga Jayawardena
Street hawkers open up their business for the day at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Eranga JayawardenaStreet hawkers open up their business for the day at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportEmrah Gurel
Relatives and friends of Arzu Ozsoy and her 15-year-old daughter Yagmur Ucar, who died in Sunday's explosion occurred on Istiklal avenue, attend their funeral in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Turkish police said Monday that they have detained a Syrian woman with suspected links to Kurdish militants and that she confessed to planting a bomb that exploded on a bustling pedestrian avenue in Istanbul, killing six people and wounding several dozen others. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Emrah GurelRelatives and friends of Arzu Ozsoy and her 15-year-old daughter Yagmur Ucar, who died in Sunday's explosion occurred on Istiklal avenue, attend their funeral in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Turkish police said Monday that they have detained a Syrian woman with suspected links to Kurdish militants and that she confessed to planting a bomb that exploded on a bustling pedestrian avenue in Istanbul, killing six people and wounding several dozen others. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
-
-
Feds: Cocaine worth $450,000 seized from wheelchair wheels at NY airportFrancisco Seco
A tram rides past the spot of Sunday's explosion on Istanbul's popular pedestrian Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022.Turkish police said Monday they have detained a Syrian woman with suspected links to Kurdish militants and that she confessed to planting a bomb that exploded on a bustling pedestrian avenue in Istanbul, killing six people and wounding several dozen others. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Francisco SecoA tram rides past the spot of Sunday's explosion on Istanbul's popular pedestrian Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022.Turkish police said Monday they have detained a Syrian woman with suspected links to Kurdish militants and that she confessed to planting a bomb that exploded on a bustling pedestrian avenue in Istanbul, killing six people and wounding several dozen others. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Categories: Trending
