A 23-year-old man named Alexander Lopez-Morel was arrested at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport upon a return trip from the Dominican Republic for attempting to traffic 23 pounds of cocaine in a wheelchair. Officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection field-tested the powdery substance after uncovering it from within the wheelchair's seat cushions. According to reports, the drugs that Lopez-Morel allegedly concealed in the wheelchair carried a street value of $378,000.
“This seizure demonstrates the dynamic border environment in which CBP officers operate at Charlotte Douglas International Airport,” said Barry Chastain, CBP Area Port Director Charlotte. “Our officers are determined to adapt and respond to these threats in an effort to stop narcotics [from] reaching our communities.”
Shortly after authorities apprehended Lopez-Morel and charged him with a felony for trafficking cocaine. The wheelchair and narcotics were passed on to Homeland Security, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and Queen City's Border Enforcement Security Team.
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Source: 1011 Now
