A Trinidadian student at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York who returned to the United States last week for the start of the new school year arrived at her dorm in Manhattan, opened her suitcase and discovered 10 pounds of cocaine inside. According to a report in the New York Post, the police were called by the 21-year-old after she made the discovery in her room. The student handed over the four packages of cocaine, which has a street value of US$150,000, to the police.
A Port Authority source said the student had flown from Piarco International Airport in Trinidad to JFK Airport, leading them to believe a smuggler might have planted the drugs in the wrong suitcase. “If her story is true, that’s the most likely scenario... There’s no question about it,” the source added. “Corrupt custom officials, baggage handlers or airport workers in both the Caribbean and New York may have teamed up on a scheme to use her as an unwitting drug mule”, the Port Authority source added.
“The smugglers may have foiled the plan by failing to unload the drugs in New York. “Smugglers play the odds . . . It has been done before to travellers especially in countries where there’s heavy narco-trafficking.” The student could not be reached for comment and has not been charged. No arrests have have been made as yet. Contacted for comment, Minister of National Security Gary Griffith said acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams had to deal with the matter first.
“Only after I get an official report, can I make a comment,” he said. Calls to Williams went unanswered.