Silly walk

Man 'walking awkwardly' busted at JFK Airport for smuggling 2 lbs of heroin worth $70K in his underwear


Trinidad native Bernard Charles was not happy to see a customs officer - he simply had 2lbs of heroin hidden in his underwear.

The traveler was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where he arrived on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Port of Spain, Trinidad, on April Fool's Day.

Charles, 42, had initially piqued the officers' interest when he was spotted 'walking awkwardly' through the terminal.

Contraband: U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized these two packages containing 1.8lbs of heroin from the groin area of Trinidad national Bernard Charles

The man's briefcase was then searched, during which time the passenger appeared visibly nervous and avoided eye contact, federal officials said.

Charles was then escorted to a private room, where officers conducted a pat-down that yielded a 'hard object' in his groin area, the New York Daily News reported.

Further investigation revealed that the 42-year-old visitor had two clear packages concealed in his underwear.

The parcels contained a brown gummy substance, which later turned out to be 1.79lbs of heroin with a street value of about $70,000.

Transportation hub: The drug bust took place on April Fool's Day at JFK Airport after Charles disembarked from a Caribbean Airlines flight

'This seizure is just another example of our CBP officers being ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of these illicit drugs,' said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP's New York Field Operations.

Charles has been turned over to Homeland Security and charged with federal narcotics smuggling.

He is being held without bail. If convicted, the Trinidad and Tobago national could face up to 10 years in prison.