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March 5, 2012Orlando, FL, United StatesNarcotics

3 kilograms of heroin seized at Orlando International Airport

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Guatemalan man was arrested Friday for possession of heroin with intent to distribute following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Rafael Quinonez Jimenez, 45, arrived at the Orlando International Airport from a flight originating in Guatemala City, Guatemala. According to court documents, CBP officers conducted a secondary inspection of his luggage, where they discovered numerous bags of what appeared to be candy lollipops. Officers discovered that Quinonez Jimenez had used the lollipops' candy shells to conceal large balls of heroin. Officers seized 172 lollipops, which contained 3.2 kilograms of heroin.

If convicted, Quinonez Jimenez faces a minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

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