Federal inspectors at Kennedy Airport intercepted almost three pounds of heroin from India that was sewn inside the hems of the traditional dresses of Indian women, known as a sari. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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The smuggling technique unraveled when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers smelled a strong chemical odor coming from a box that was labeled: “Dress,” the agency said Friday. The box had been shipped from India.
When officers examined the three dresses that were inside, they noticed each had hems that were much thicker than normal.
A closer look at the hefty hems revealed the seams were stuffed with a tan powdery substance that tested positive for smack. The contraband saris held about 2.8 pounds of pure heroin, which has a total street value of about $90,000, the agency said.
CBP Spokesman Anthony Bucci declined to say where the shipment originated from in India or what its final destination was supposed to be. He said the matter is under investigation.
But he said the smuggling ruse wasn’t much of a surprise.
“Smugglers have used just about everything you can think of,” he said. “That includes wearing double sets of underwear with drugs sewn into the first pair, drugs hidden inside chocolate candy or under shipments of Valentine’s flowers.
“You think of something that’s new – it’s been tried,” he added.
