An arriving passenger at Charlotte Douglas International Airport arrived with more than just a rolling electric wheelchair when met by U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers.
On Tuesday, Mr. Alexander A. Lopez-Morel, a 22-year-old lawful permanent resident of the United States, arrived in Charlotte on a flight from the Dominican Republic. He was encountered by CBP officers utilizing an electric wheelchair to conceal packages of a white powdery substance.
After he underwent further inspection by officers involving a closer examination of the motorized chair, CBP officers found the packages within the seat cushions containing the substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.
A total of four packages containing over 23 pounds of cocaine discovered inside the wheelchair has an estimated street value of $378.000.00
CBP officers placed Mr. Lopez-Morel under arrest and the cocaine and wheelchair were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, Queen City’s Border Enforcement Security Team (BEST) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for further investigation. Mr. Lopez-Morel was charged with felony trafficking in cocaine.
