A New York woman is facing federal drug trafficking charges after authorities say she tried to bring nearly eight kilograms of cocaine into the United States hidden inside duty-free boxes of alcohol.
Stacey Medina Guzman, 24, of Corona, New York, was arrested after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston on Feb. 4 on a JetBlue flight from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, according to federal prosecutors.
Officials say the alleged smuggling attempt unraveled when a narcotics detection dog flagged Medina Guzman’s luggage during screening at the airport’s international arrivals checkpoint.
U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said the K-9 alert prompted agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct a closer inspection of the passenger’s duty-free bag.
Inside the bag were two boxes labeled as bottles of Chivas Regal whiskey purchased from an airport duty-free shop.
But investigators quickly noticed something suspicious.
According to prosecutors, the packaging on the alcohol boxes appeared to have been tampered with and resealed using glue.
When authorities cut open the boxes, they allegedly discovered a stash of cocaine hidden inside.
Federal officials say the packages contained 12 tightly wrapped bricks of the drug weighing approximately eight kilograms.
The discovery immediately triggered a federal narcotics investigation.
A grand jury has since indicted Medina Guzman on multiple serious charges, including importation of five kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances.
Each of the charges carries severe potential penalties under federal law.
If convicted, Medina Guzman could face a maximum sentence of life in prison along with fines that could reach up to $10 million, according to prosecutors.
Authorities have not publicly detailed whether investigators believe Medina Guzman was acting alone or as part of a larger drug trafficking network.
Drug smuggling routes between the Caribbean and the United States have long been a focus for federal law enforcement, with traffickers often attempting to disguise narcotics inside common travel items.
In this case, prosecutors say the alleged concealment method involved hiding the cocaine inside boxes meant to resemble sealed bottles of premium whiskey.
Duty-free shops, commonly found in international airports, sell alcohol, perfume and luxury goods that are exempt from certain taxes for international travelers.
But in this instance, investigators say the tax-free packaging became part of an alleged attempt to move a significant quantity of cocaine across the border.
