Airport security allegedly caught a passenger smuggling a large quantity of cocaine hidden in her motorized wheelchair at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
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Per a report by People, Elaine Perez-Pena, 35, was traveling from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on January 25. She stopped for a connecting flight in Chicago en route to Newark, New Jersey. The outlet explains that a special agent with Homeland Security filed a complaint regarding the incident. According to the report, officers inspected Perez-Pena's belongings, where she allegedly told them that her legs hurt.
Authorities found nothing suspicious in the wheelchair-bound passenger's luggage. However, eagle-eyed officers noticed that the cushions on the motorized wheelchair looked notably "newer." Officers sent the wheelchair through an X-ray and saw "anomalies in density and colors consistent with normal cushioning."
These findings prompted an inspection from a sniffer dog, who gave a positive response for narcotics. At that point, officers started an "intrusive exam" of the wheelchair by drilling into the cushions. Allegedly, the Homeland Security filing explains that they found a "white powdery substance" on the drill tip.
The report by People explains that customs officers reportedly found 14 packages secured behind the cushions. Each package contained the same white powder. A narcotics check identified the substance to be cocaine. The filing alleges that no less than 14.08KG of cocaine was found hidden in the motorized wheelchair.
The Passenger Had A Previous Drug Smuggling Conviction
The special agent reportedly explains that based on years of experience, they know a kilogram of cocaine is worth between $17,000 and $20,000. With these figures, a lowball estimate puts the total value of the haul at a staggering $238,000.
After the tests, authorities allegedly took Perez-Pena to a holding cell. During that time, it seems her walking abilities improved as it's reported that she was pacing back and forth in her cell unaided.
Authorities may have given Perez-Pena a closer look thanks to a previous conviction for a related offense. According to NBC, Homeland Security gave her a "secondary inspection" owing to a smuggling conviction a few years ago. Perez-Pena pleaded guilty to smuggling almost 3 kilograms of cocaine in 2022. She reportedly had the drugs stuffed in her suitcase from a trip to the Dominican Republic. Authorities ultimately arrested her at John F. Kennedy Airport in 2021.
