An American man who recently arrived at the John F Kennedy International Airport on a flight from Kingston, Jamaica, was charged after nine pounds of cocaine was found in eight bags of whole milk in his luggage.

Anthony Xavier Nassy Tyrell now faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office in the United States Eastern District Court of New York.

A statement last week from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said Tyrell arrived at the airport on a flight from Kingston on August 19.

CBP officers conducted a baggage exam of Tyrell’s luggage which later revealed eight bags of “Lasco Milk”.

The American was escorted to a search room where the bags were examined, and later revealed a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.

The weight of the cocaine seized was approximately nine pounds, with an estimated street value of US$150,000, the statement said.

CBP said the drugs equates to “approximately 25,000 doses (100 – 200 mg)”.

“A lethal dose of cocaine is roughly one to three grams, so the amount seized by CBP and kept out of our neighborhoods would be roughly 2,000 lethal doses,” the statement added.

Tyrell was subsequently arrested for the importation of a controlled substance and was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Commenting on the seizure, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations, Francis J Russo said that, “The smuggling of illicit drugs poses a significant threat to our nation, and CBP is determined to keep these drugs off our streets.”

He added: “As America’s unified border security agency, our employees are dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from these substances.”