New York man arrested at T.F. Green after more than 13 kilos of cocaine seized from carry-on
This is a photo of Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. (WLNE)
WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — A New York man was arrested at T.F. Green International Airport after Customs and Border Protection agents say they found more than 13 kilograms of cocaine in his carry-on bag.
Officials said that 46-year-old Richard Pineda Novas, of Bronx, N.Y., was traveling from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and arrived at T.F. Green on September 28.
When he arrived in Rhode Island, officials say a bag was confiscated near Novas that was found to contain 12 triangular containers totaling 13.28 kilograms of cocaine along with a bible that had a paycheck made out to Novas inside it.
After his initial security screening at T.F. Green, Novas was taken to a second inspection point as it was learned he was allegedly connected to another man who had just been arrested at J.F.K. International Airport.
The man at J.F.K. was allegedly found to be in possession of 14.95 kilograms of cocaine.
Authorities said Novas denied that the carry-on bag belonged to him and later claimed that he was given the bag by someone he didn’t know.
Novas is facing a charge of conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, as well as a charge of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
