Man Busted At JFK For Smuggling Heroin In Horchata Mix

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Published Mar 12, 2015

Modified Mar 12, 2015

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A traveler toting heroin disguised as powdered milk from El Salvador was busted at JFK on Friday after becoming "increasingly nervous" during customs questioning.

Julio Rivera-Hernandez was chosen for inspection upon arriving in New York via Avanca Airlines. Among his possessions was a powdered drink called "Super Horchata," which actually wasn't a drink at all, but 32 packets of heroin!

According to the Daily News, Rivera-Hernandez gave up the ghost when he “winced and looked away” as inspectors investigated the milk boxes.

The street value of the smack is around $140,000. Rivera-Hernandez was charged with narcotics smuggling. He is being held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

“Heroin is a dangerous narcotic and (Customs) does its part in keeping these drugs off the streets,” Director of New York Field Operations Robert Perez said in a statement.