Feds: Men Arrested at LAX with Cocaine-Saturated Ropes

The men were returning from a trip to Panama.

The ropes were allegedly laced with cocaine.

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Two men were arrested at LAX last week after officers found cocaine-laced ropes in their backpacks, officials said.

The men were returning from a trip to Panama on March 15 when officers located the ropes and cords. Authorities said the ropes had a strange odor and were overly stiff, prompting suspicion.

They later tested positive for cocaine, officials said.

The two men were arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance.

The men said they had purchased the ropes from a vendor at a swap meet and were planning on using them for a fishing boat