Cocaine in Wheelchair Could Get Man Life Sentence

Authorities in Hong Kong say an airline passenger's wheelchair was packed with enough suspected cocaine to get him a potential life sentence. The South China Morning Post reports that the 51-year-old passenger, who has mobility issues, flew with the motorized wheelchair as one of his items of checked baggage. After it was X-rayed, customs officials spotted that its cushions had been restitched and found 24 pounds of suspected cocaine stuffed into its cushions and backrest, the BBC reports.

Customs officials say the man claimed to be the director of a car rental company and said a friend had loaned him the wheelchair. He flew to Hong Kong from the Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten via Paris. The man has been charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug, which has a maximum penalty of life in prison. (Customs agents made a similar find at New York City's JFK Airport last year.)