NEW YORK: AJF security forces captured a man with 18 pound liquidized cocaine on airport that was tried to dupe Airport security into thinking he was only bringing in a few bottles of South American booze after arriving in New York from Guyana but it was actually liquid cocaine he was carrying, authorities said.
Atlanta resident Wilton Sinclair, 35, thought he had officials completely fooled when he arrived in New York with four big bottles of purported “El Dorado” rum in two duty-free bags.
Before to boarding his flight to New York from Georgetown, Sinclair had allegedly secretly filled the 1.75 liter glass containers with nearly 18 pounds of liquidized cocaine, which officials later estimated to be worth more than $300,000.
But his scheme fell apart when he presented the bags for inspection to US Customs and Border Protection agents, according to Anthony Bucci, a CBP spokesman.
Customs officers noticed that the liquid in the bottles had an unusual chemical odor and that it was a “thick syrup-like substance inconsistent with rum,” according to a criminal complaint.
The substance tested positive for cocaine — what amounted to 8 kilos, or 17.6 pounds, with a street value of approximately $310,000, officials said. Sinclair was arrested and charged with federal narcotics smuggling.