Guyanese man busted at JFK Airport while trying to smuggle cocaine of over US$239,000

A 22-year-old citizen of the United States, Zacharie Scott, who lives in Guyana, has been arrested by the officials at the John F Kennedy International Airport. He was attempting to smuggle 18.45 kilograms of cocaine stashed in packages of frozen jumbo shrimp.

According to the reports, Scott was travelling from Guyana to the USA and was apprehended at JFK Airport, New York. He has been charged with unlawful importation of a controlled substance after he admitted to agreeing to smuggle around 40 pounds of cocaine.

The cocaine is estimated to have a street value of between US$239,850 and US$479,700.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York reported that on Friday, a routine secondary screening was done on Scott's luggage by Customs Agents.

During the screening of his two suitcases, the officials found bags of frozen jumbo shrimp.

Investigators say the packages of shrimp were cut open to reveal brick-shaped objects filled with a white, powdery substance. Upon examination, this substance was found positive for cocaine.

The Preliminary questioning with Scott revealed that he had knowingly brought the packages into the USA in exchange for a payment of around US$6,000.

Scott was placed under arrest by the US Homeland Security and reportedly confessed that he knew it was wrong to smuggle the drugs into the U.S.

The officials have reported that if found guilty, the 22-year-old could face up to 20 years in prison. The accused appeared in the Brooklyn Federal Court on Saturday, following which a judge ordered Scott to be detained until his bail hearing on Tuesday.

The incident is being condemned by citizens both in the USA and Guyana as they are asking the authorities to be stricter in relation to those who are trying to smuggle drugs in and out of both countries.

It is expected that the next hearing of Scott will determine his exact charges and punishment.