Federal customs agents said they have arrested a Guatemalan man on charges of attempting to smuggle 26-plus pounds of cocaine through the Atlanta airport.

The discovery came Friday during inspection of the passenger’s baggage, the U. S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release Tuesday.

Officers found packages of uncooked red beans in the baggage. When they sliced open a package, they discovered a white, powdery substance, which tested positive for cocaine.

The drug had a street value of more than $600,000, officials said.

“Our officers remain vigilant in disrupting criminal activity despite the creative concealment methods smugglers employ,” said Devin Chamberlain, acting Customs and Border Patrol Port Director for Atlanta.

The suspect, who was en route to New York, was turned over to Clayton County police for prosecution, Chamberlain said.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools

Featured

A MARTA operator is seen inside the control room of one of the new MARTA trains during the unveiling of these trains on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez