Cocaine-stuffed tamales seized at Houston airport

ABCNews logo
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection
kfsn

HOUSTON -- File this under "ways not to smuggle drugs."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers said they found about seven ounces of cocaine stuffed inside some tamales while screening a passenger at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Wednesday.

According to the agency, a 46-year-old man was traveling from El Salvador to New York when officers found a box of 200 tamales inside his luggage. Nine bags of cocaine were found inside the tamales.

"This type of seizure speaks to our level of commitment in disrupting criminal activity despite the concealment method," said CBP Service Port Director Beverly Good.

The alleged smuggler was turned over to Houston police, according to the CBP.