Man charged with smuggling 148 cocaine pellets into US

Author: the associated press
Published:
MGN

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – U.S. customs officials say agents caught a man flying from Jamaica to South Florida with 148 pellets of cocaine in his stomach.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel (http://goo.gl/7Ho7DD ) reports that 41-year-old Errol Simpson made his first appearance Thursday in federal court on a drug smuggling charge. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports that Simpson flew from Montego Bay to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Sept. 15. Agents said he appeared nervous and gave inconsistent answers when questioned. X-rays at a local hospital revealed the pellets.

Officials say Simpson spent eight days in the hospital passing all the pellets, which weighed nearly 3 pounds. Investigators estimated the street value of the drugs to be about $38,000.

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