http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...uggle-jetblue-flight-20131001,0,6615544.story
Feds: Flight attendant smuggled heroin to Orlando
A JetBlue flight attendant smuggled heroin, shaped to resemble chocolate candy, under her uniform during a trip from Colombia to Orlando, federal agents say.
Customs officers made the discovery Friday afternoon when they began screening passengers and employees exiting a JetBlue flight from Bogota to Orlando International Airport.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Carla Michelle Alvarado told customs officers during a screening that she hid items in a garment under her flight-attendant uniform.
Officers found multiple hard oval pellets that looked like chocolate candy. But they were really about 940 grams — or just over two pounds — of heroin, the criminal complaint said.
Alvarado told agents she was given the drugs in Colombia and was being paid $10,000 to deliver the heroin to Jorge Luis Alomar, an acquaintance in Orlando.
Alvarado, of Kissimmee, agreed to help agents with their investigation and complete the delivery.
Alvarado and Alomar agreed to meet at a restaurant near the airport Saturday morning to hand off the supposed drugs.
When Alomar arrived at the restaurant and accepted what he thought was a bag of heroin, agents arrested him and Alvarado.
Alomar told agents he coordinates heroin shipments from a source in Bogota and said he asked Alvarado for help in moving the drugs, the complaint said.
Alomar said Alvarado transported another package of heroin for him about two weeks ago, and he paid her $10,000 for that supply.
Agents asked Alomar if he had any other drugs, and he said he had more heroin hidden in his Davenport home, the complaint said.
Agents took Alomar to his house, where he moved a dresser, pulled up the carpet and removed a bag containing about 165 grams of heroin. In his bathroom, Alomar removed a ceiling vent cover and pulled out bags containing about 55 grams of heroin.
Alvarado and Alomar were arrested on a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and both made their first appearance in Orlando federal court Monday.
Alomar remains jailed in Orange County. Alvarado was granted pretrial release.
apavuk@tribune.com or 407-420-5735
Feds: Flight attendant smuggled heroin to Orlando
A JetBlue flight attendant smuggled heroin, shaped to resemble chocolate candy, under her uniform during a trip from Colombia to Orlando, federal agents say.
Customs officers made the discovery Friday afternoon when they began screening passengers and employees exiting a JetBlue flight from Bogota to Orlando International Airport.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Carla Michelle Alvarado told customs officers during a screening that she hid items in a garment under her flight-attendant uniform.
Officers found multiple hard oval pellets that looked like chocolate candy. But they were really about 940 grams — or just over two pounds — of heroin, the criminal complaint said.
Alvarado told agents she was given the drugs in Colombia and was being paid $10,000 to deliver the heroin to Jorge Luis Alomar, an acquaintance in Orlando.
Alvarado, of Kissimmee, agreed to help agents with their investigation and complete the delivery.
Alvarado and Alomar agreed to meet at a restaurant near the airport Saturday morning to hand off the supposed drugs.
When Alomar arrived at the restaurant and accepted what he thought was a bag of heroin, agents arrested him and Alvarado.
Alomar told agents he coordinates heroin shipments from a source in Bogota and said he asked Alvarado for help in moving the drugs, the complaint said.
Alomar said Alvarado transported another package of heroin for him about two weeks ago, and he paid her $10,000 for that supply.
Agents asked Alomar if he had any other drugs, and he said he had more heroin hidden in his Davenport home, the complaint said.
Agents took Alomar to his house, where he moved a dresser, pulled up the carpet and removed a bag containing about 165 grams of heroin. In his bathroom, Alomar removed a ceiling vent cover and pulled out bags containing about 55 grams of heroin.
Alvarado and Alomar were arrested on a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and both made their first appearance in Orlando federal court Monday.
Alomar remains jailed in Orange County. Alvarado was granted pretrial release.
apavuk@tribune.com or 407-420-5735