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

Potholes, like this one being fixed by the Atlanta Department of Transportation in 2023, have been a problem for commuters on Perry Boulevard and West Marietta Street. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2023)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Featured

Delta employees are under investigation because of content “related to the recent murder of activist Charlie Kirk” that “went well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a companywide memo Friday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez