Customs: Two men on same flight had cocaine under their pants

April 27 (UPI) -- Customs officials at a New York airport said two passengers on the same flight from the Dominican Republic were hiding large amounts of cocaine under their pants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Ariel Garcia, a U.S. citizen, presented himself for inspection April 19 when he arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport on a flight from Santo Domingo.

Officers found about 11 pounds of cocaine in packages strapped to Garcia's body under his pants.

Elvin Montilla-Sosa, a Dominican Republic citizen who arrived on the same flight as Garcia, also presented himself for inspection at the airport and was found to have about 12 pounds of cocaine in packages taped to his legs and back.

It was unclear whether the two men were working together or independently.

"This latest seizure demonstrates our CBP officers being ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of these illicit drugs," said Leon Hayward, acting director of CBP's New York Field Operations.

Garcia and Montilla-Sosa are now facing federal narcotics smuggling charges, officials said.