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6 charged in NY with smuggling drugs in candy

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6 charged in NY with smuggling drugs in candyThis undated photo provided by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) for New York City shows heroin, in yellow packages, that was disguised in packages of candy. Authorities say lost-luggage delivery driver Jorge Guerrero ran an Ecuador-to-New York drug smuggling ring that stuffed cocaine into pastries and hid heroin in chocolate candies. Guerrero, his wife and four others pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and other charges Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012 in a Manhattan court. (AP Photo/NYC Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor)(Credit: AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities say a lost-luggage handler ran an Ecuador-to-New York City smuggling ring that disguised drugs in chocolates and cocaine-soaked scuba diving certificates.

They allege 39-year-old Jorge Guerrero (guh-REHR’-oh) arranged to ship innocent-looking but drug-laden packages on cargo planes from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to New York’s Kennedy Airport.

Guerrero, his wife and four others pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and other charges Tuesday. His lawyer said none of the seized drugs were recovered from Guerrero’s home.

Seized shipments included sugar and oatmeal cookies packed atop a pound of cocaine, chocolate candies laced with half a pound of heroin and a stack of diving course diplomas that had been drenched in more than three pounds of cocaine, which was apparently to be extracted later.

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Follow Jennifer Peltz at http://twitter.com/jennpeltz

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