A passenger who landed at Newark Airport from Peru Sunday had food and drinks in his checked bag that turned out to contain cocaine and dozens of Oxycodone pills, officials said.
Customs and Border Protection officers were inspecting the luggage of the man, a U.S. citizen, when they found a variety of food products, drinks and 88 Oxycodone pills, officials said.
Officers took the man and his luggage to a private search room for further inspection, and found white powder inside the food. The powder tested positive for cocaine, according to officials.
About 10 pounds of cocaine were seized, along with the pills, for a total estimated street value of $170,000.
The man, who had flown in from Lima, was turned over to Port Authority police, and faces narcotics smuggling charges, authorities said.
