Woman Admits Inserting Drugs Into Vagina, Gets Arrested At JFK Airport

KEY POINTS

Cocaine pellets were found in the bra and purse of a woman who flew to JFK Airport from the Dominican Republic Friday
She admitted that she also inserted pellets vaginally and anally, officials said
Agents seized 3 pounds of cocaine from 100 pellets with an estimated street value of more than $94,000

Officials in New York nabbed Friday a Green Card holder attempting to smuggle in nearly $100,000 worth of cocaine through John F. Kennedy International Airport by hiding them in her bra, purse and some internal bodily areas.

The passenger, identified as Yerlina Lantigua Hernandez DeNova, was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials after she flew in from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the agency said in a press statement Tuesday.

Officials initially found three pellets containing white powder in DeNova's purse after she presented herself for inspection, the agency said. DeNova was then taken to a private area to be thoroughly searched, where more drug pellets were found in her bra. At that point, DeNova reportedly admitted to officials that more pellets were inserted inside her vagina and anus.

The agency said DeNova was "full of pellets." According to the CBP, a sample of the powder tested positive for cocaine.

"Fortunately, this is not the first time U.S. Bustoms and Border Protection officers in New York have seen this concealment method," the CBP said in the statement.

Approximately 3 pounds of cocaine were found in the 100 pellets recovered by customs officials. They said the estimated street value of the seized drugs was more than $94,000.

"This seizure is another example of our CBP officers being ever vigilant in protecting the United States from distribution of these illicit drugs," acting director of CBP'S New York field operations Marty Rabon said in the statement.

DeNova was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations. She faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the U.S. Eastern District Court of the state.

CBP officials from Texas and New Mexico also reminded the public Tuesday that all marijuana imports were still prohibited despite some states decriminalizing the recreational use and possession of the drug.

"Do not cross the border with any amount of marijuana at all," CBP El Paso director of field operations Hector Mancha said in a statement.

Acting CBP El Paso port director Greta Campos said, "Processing these cases also has a negative impact on our ability to manage the flow of legitimate traffic."

As of writing, 17 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the use of marijuana.