These are candies with a little kick!
A Connecticut man’s sweet plan to smuggle $500,000 worth of cocaine — stuffed into chocolate truffles and pistachio shells — into the country through JFK Airport was half-baked, customs officials say.
Robert Lopera was arrested on May 11 after Customs and Border Protection agents noticed that “the chocolates and pistachios were unusually heavy,” the feds said.
He was allegedly toting 15 pounds of cocaine, some of it disguised as Ferrero Rocher chocolates.
The unemployed Lopera flew in to New York on Avianca Flight 824 from Medellin, Colombia. He had a one-way cash ticket.
The officers noticed the heft of the sweets when he handed over two bags for examination.
He was arrested after the powder in the treats tested positive for cocaine, authorities said.
Lopera is awaiting federal prosecution and could face significant jail time if found guilty.