Cops: Woman Smuggled Cocaine in Wheelchair

A woman from the Dominican Republic has been indicted on charges that she attempted to smuggle cocaine hidden in her wheelchair batteries through a Boston airport.

Ireline Aponte Melende was indicted on federal charges Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston on charges of unlawful importation of a controlled substance.

Authorities say Melende was stopped at Logan International Airport in May after arriving from the Dominican Republic. Federal prosecutors say customs and border protection officials X-rayed her motorized wheelchair and noticed "abnormalities" in the wheelchair batteries.

Authorities say four bricks containing a white powdery substance that were shown to be cocaine were in the batteries.

It was not known Thursday if Melende is represented by a lawyer.

If convicted, she faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.