Federal Customs and Border Proection (CBP) officals said authroities became suspicious when they discovered a box of Tastee Brand Jamacian Beef Patties in luggage belonging to Chantal Alecia Bedward, who is a citizen of Jamaica.
When authorities brought her to a room to search her, they opened the box and 12 packages of cocaine fell out. Bedward was arrested and charged with drug smuggling. The case was turned over to the investigations unit at the Department of Homeland Security.
Bedward will answer to her narcotics smuggling charges in federal court in Manhattan. As of now, no court date has been set. It’s also not know whether she is being represented by a lawyer.
The white powder was tested and the results came back positive for cocaine. In total, four pounds of cocaine was seized. It had a street value of around $70,000.
Robert E. Perez, director of field operations in NY for CBP, said the bust demonstrated the vigilance and dedication that the CBP demonstrates on a daily basis in keeping dangerous narcotics off the streets.
