National swimmer held in US over cocaine

Earlando Mc Rae

National swimmer Earlando Mc Rae was held in New York on November 4 with 2.5 kilogrammes of cocaine in his suitcase.

According to court documents seen by Stabroek News, Mc Rae arrived at the John F Kennedy International Airport aboard Fly Jamaica Flight Number 272  via Jamaica. Upon his arrival, the court documents said that he was selected by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers for an enforcement examination. During this, the court documents said that he  appeared nervous and said that everything in the suitcase belonged to him.

The court documents said that CBP officers searched the suitcase and determined that its walls felt unusually thick. The walls of the suitcase were probed and the officers discovered the substance which was field tested and determined to be cocaine.

The court documents said that McRae waived his Miranda rights and said he knew that the suitcase contained cocaine.

He is in custody.