see also: in March 2006 News Releases:   Customs and Border Protection Seized the Moment at Elementary School   CBP Donates Thousands of Seized Clothing Items and Toys to Those Affected by Hurricane Rita   Cooperative Effort Between CBP Border Patrol and Mexican Police Leads to Narcotic Seizure and Arrests   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Thwart Human Smuggling Attempt   Aduanas Y Proteccion Fronteriza Recomiendan Tramitar Con Tiempo Permiso I-94 Durante Semana Santa   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Urges Easter Holiday Travelers to Apply Early for I-94 Documents   Sarita Checkpoint Seizures Net Marijuana and Cocaine ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Jamaica, NY – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized approximately 25 pounds of heroin with a street value of more than over $4 million, and arrested a 48 year-old woman in the smuggling attempt at JFK International Airport.

On March 13, 2006, a female U.S. citizen was encountered by CBP officers at JFK Airport upon her arrival from the Dominican Republic. During a baggage examination, CBP officers inspected the bottom of the suitcase, discovering an unusually thick lining. Further probing of the suitcase produced a light brown powdery substance that field-tested positive for heroin.

“The false bottom contained a total weight of approximately 25 pounds of heroin, which has an estimated street value of over $4 million," stated Susan Mitchell, Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations for the New York Field Office. The heroin and the suitcase were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The passenger was arrested on federal charges of importation and possession with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement are continuing the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York. The defendant was arraigned at U.S. District Court in Brooklyn by Magistrate Bloom.

This seizure was just one of several seizures that CBP officers have effected in recent weeks. Since January of this year, CBP Officers at JFK made 27 heroin seizures totaling over 100 pounds of heroin worth an estimated $16 million dollars. “CBP has undertaken the enormous mission of preventing terrorist and terrorist weapons from entering U.S. borders, however, these recent seizures demonstrate that our officers are aggressively and effectively pursuing our traditional mission of narcotics interdiction,” stated Susan Mitchell.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.