Woman busted at JFK airport trying to smuggle 50 kilograms of cocaine in wheelchair wheels

A woman who returning to New York has been busted with almost $745k worth of illegal substances — inside the tires of her wheelchair.

A woman was busted at JFK Airport in New York trying to smuggle almost 50kg of cocaine — inside the tires of her wheelchair, authorities said.

According to the New York Post, federal agents suspected something was off with Emelinda Paulino De Rivas’ wheelchair when she arrived in New York City on Thursday from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

Officers said they noticed the tires on the wheelchair weren’t rotating.

The cocaine was found in the woman's wheelchair wheels.

So they X-rayed the four rubber wheels and discovered roughly 50kg of cocaine, worth nearly $745k, stuffed in bags inside, authorities said.

De Rivas, a Dominican national, was taken into custody and charged with multiple counts of federal narcotics smuggling

“CBP stands steadfast and determined in working with our partners to identify the trans- national criminal networks responsible for importing these deadly drugs into our neighbourhoods.” Francis Russo, director of CBP’s New York office, said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been republished with permission