Woman tried to smuggle cocaine in picture frames, officials say

A woman attempting to smuggle 14 pounds of cocaine in picture frames has been arrested after U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Kennedy Airport found the contraband, Homeland Security officials said.

Fabiola Guerrero Mendoza, 31, of Queens had just arrived Tuesday from Mexico City when her luggage was searched while going through Customs, officials said in a news release.

Customs specialists X-rayed the three wooden frames the Mexican citizen had with her and they tested positive for cocaine, officials said. A street value for the narcotic was not determined.

“CBP officers remain ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of these dangerous drugs,” said Leon Hayward, acting director of CBP’s New York Field Operations.

Mendoza was turned over to Port Authority Police and will be prosecuted by the Queens County District Court on narcotics smuggling charges.