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  4. CBP at JFK Arrests Heroin Smuggler

CBP at JFK Arrests Heroin Smuggler

Release Date
Fri, 03/31/2017

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Detect Heroin in Whiskey and Speaker

JAMAICA, N.Y. — Two arriving passengers might be singing the blues after U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport seized their illegal cocktail.

Heroine was found concealed in a bottle of whiskey at JFK Airport.
Heroin concealed
in a bottle of whiskey
at JFK Airport.

On March 26, Mr. Andres Uribe Rebolledo, a Colombian citizen, along with his girlfriend Ms. Yuly Valencia Sanchez, also a Colombian citizen, arrived on a flight from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. During the examination, CBP officers discovered one Marshall brand speaker, and one Glenmorangie brand whisky gift box that felt unusually heavy. Mr. Rebolledo and Ms. Sanchez were escorted to a private search room where CBP officers probed the speaker and whiskey gift box producing a tan substance that tested positive for heroin.

In total, approximately 9 lbs. of heroin with an estimated street value of more than $250,000 were seized.

“Heroin is a dangerous narcotic, and CBP does its part in keeping these drugs off the streets.” said Leon Hayward, acting Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. “Our officers are determined to protect the American people from these illicit substances.”

Smugglers concealed heroin inside a speaker at JFK Airport.
CBP officers found heroin
concealed in speaker at
JFK Airport.

Mr. Rebolledo and Ms. Sanchez now face narcotics smuggling charges and are being prosecuted by the New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office.

All defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021