Customs: Woman Caught Smuggling Cocaine in Laptop Bag at JFK

Photo: Cocaine stash seized at JFK Airport Tuesday. Credit: CBP

A woman was caught trying to smuggle more than three pounds of cocaine through John F. Kennedy Airport in a laptop bag, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.

Ortega Tejada arrived from the Dominican Republic Tuesday and was proceeding through inspection when officials noticed her computer bag was unusually heavy and bulky, said CBP. Officers probed the bag and discovered a white powdery substance that was determined to be cocaine, officials said.

Officers found a total of 3.3 pounds of cocaine worth about $55,000, CBP said.

Tejada was charged with importation of a controlled substance and was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations, officials said. She now faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

“This latest seizure demonstrates the vigilance of our CBP officers, and their excellence in detecting those who would try to smuggle these illegal substances,” said Robert E. Perez, Director of Field Operations in New York.

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