A man who flew to the United States with a can of tomatoes full of cocaine is arrested

New York – U.S. authorities reported Monday that they have arrested a man who arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) with a can full of tomatoes with 5 pounds (2.2 pounds) of cocaine worth $ 160,000.

Keiter Elian Rijo Morales, 26, “had more than spaghetti with meatballs in mind when officers from the Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confiscated his illegal condiment” at the airport, he said. informed the agency in a statement.

Rijo Morales arrived in New York on December 26 on a flight from Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and officers inspected a large metal can he carried in his luggage labeled “Bella tomato paste.” which turned out to be something else.

“CBP agents opened the container and discovered a white emollient substance that tested positive for cocaine,” the agency said, after which the man was arrested for importing a controlled substance and delivered to the National Security Research Department.

The detainee had hidden in the can of tomatoes five pounds (2.2 kilos) of cocaine that on the street would have reached a price of $ 160,000, according to authorities’ estimate.

“Smuggling illicit drugs poses a significant threat to our nation and CBP plays its part in keeping these drugs off our streets,” explained the agency’s director of operations in New York, Troy Miller.

“As a unified security agency on U.S. borders, our employees are determined to protect the public from these substances,” he added.

Rijo Morales faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and his case will be prosecuted by the New York District Attorney’s Office.