JFK Airport security were led by drug sniffing canines, to two women returning to New York on an arrival flight from the Dominican Republic.
As reported on Feb. 2, 2013, Priscilla Pena and Michelle Blassingale, from the Bronx, were asked by airport security, to submit to a routine search of their luggage in light of the dog's reaction to the women. Airport security personnel searched Pena's luggage and found nothing.
Blassingale traveling with Pena, both women were then subjected to a physical search of their person, in a pat-down by a female officer. The pat-down created further suspicion, and a strip search is performed.
The women were found to be wearing silver padded undergarments. Upon further examination of the undergarment, and its padding, airport authorities discovered 6.5 kilos of cocaine packaged in the silver, diaper like apparatus.
Feb. 2, OYE News reports, "Based on an affidavit on the incident obtained by Gothamist, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials missed anything once they inspected Pena’s luggage but noticed she “appeared to be really nervous” during questioning. Pena ended up being given a pat-down before consenting to some strip-search, prosecutors said."
The two women were arrested and are faced with smuggling, according to the New York Post. Blassingale remained in custody in Brooklyn and Pena was released on $150,000 bond.
Comments