Feds: Drug Smuggler Busted for Hiding Cocaine in Suitcase Handles

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport apprehended a man for attempting to sneak cocaine into the country via the handles on his suitcase, the Department of Homeland Security reports.

On June 5, Warren Hawk, a U.S. citizen, arrived at JFK from Georgetown, Guyana. During a routine inspection, CBP officers noticed that the handles on his suitcase appeared to be abnormally thick.

He was taken to a private search room where his baggage was searched more thoroughly. Upon probing one of the handles, CBP officers detected a white, powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine, officials said. 

Approximately 4.82 pounds of cocaine was seized, with an approximate street value of over $82,000. Hawk was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.

“CBP Officers continue to adapt to various concealment methods employed by these smugglers,” said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. “And CBP remains ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of these dangerous drugs.”

Hawk faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York.