Alleged Drug Smugglers Indicted After Dulles Airport Arrest

DULLES, VA —Two men were indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 3 after being arrested in October for attempting to bring 500 grams or more of cocaine into the U.S. through Dulles International Airport, according to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announcement.

Said Imberly Chino Lucero, 28, a permanent resident of the U.S. residing in San Juan, Mexico, and Carlos Andres Herrera-Fernandez, 35, of Lanham, Md., were both charged with conspiracy to import and the importation of cocaine into the United States and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to court records, the defendants were arrested October 5, after Chino Lucero attempted to bring 500 grams or more of cocaine into the U.S. through Dulles International Airport. The cocaine was allegedly contained in packaging for candy which Chino Lucero smuggled in his luggage onto a commercial flight. Herrera-Fernandez is identified as a co-conspirator in this scheme.

Herrera-Fernandez and Chino Lucero each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison if convicted of each count, according to the announcement.

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