CBP Seizes Abandoned Cocaine at Airport Luggage Carousel

Approximate Street Value, $382,500

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized an abandoned suitcase filled with 13 rectangular packages, totaling 15.30 kilos/33.73 pounds, of cocaine this Sunday from a flight arriving at the Rafael Hernandez Airport.

The suitcase was found after all passengers were processed by CBP from a PAWA Airlines flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

A CBP K-9 alerted on the odor of narcotics on the suitcase, later finding the13 packages inside.

The narcotics were seized and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was notified to conduct further investigation, which resulted in the arrest of Miguel Quiles, 32, a resident of Dorado, Puerto Rico.

The estimated value of the seized cocaine is $382,500.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.