JFK Passenger Caught With Heroin in Hair Treatment Bottles

Emilce Cardona during a routine inspection July 25

A passenger arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport from Colombia was arrested after authorities discovered heroin in hair treatment bottles in her luggage.

Customs officers found 38 packages of hair treatment in the baggage of Emilce Cardona during a routine inspection July 25.

Officials say the hair treatment packages contained a brown pasty substance that tested positive for heroin.

The total weight of the hair treatment and heroin was about eight pounds.

Cardona was charged with importing narcotics and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations, officials said. She now faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's office in the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York.

Information on an attorney wasn't available.

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