Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- Two days before Christmas , the alleged smuggler apparently thought Easter eggs would be the perfect ploy to conceal 14 pounds of cocaine . It did n't work . U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers sensed something was a little off with candy for the wrong holiday , a spokeswoman said . `` That 's certainly an anomaly , is n't it ? They 're trained to detect anomalies in all kinds of situations , '' said Lee Harty , a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection . `` It 's an unusual concealment method -- at least for this time of year . Maybe not for spring . '' Esteban Galtes , 23 , of Miami , Florida , was being held without bail being set Monday after he asked a federal court in Los Angeles to continue his Monday hearing until Wednesday , said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice . Galtes ' attorney could not be reached for comment Monday evening . Galtes is accused of smuggling cocaine into Los Angeles International Airport after a week-long trip in Colombia , and he 's charged with importation of a controlled substance , which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison , authorities said . Last Thursday night , Galtes ' luggage was allegedly found to conceal more than 14 pounds of cocaine during a search by customs officers , officials said . Much of the cocaine was camouflaged as pastel-colored Easter egg candies , and the remainder of the cocaine was hidden under a cardboard false bottom of a paper shopping bag , authorities said . `` When they inspected the candies and they cut it into them , a white powdery substance was exposed , which tested positive for cocaine , '' Harty said . The cocaine has a street value of more than $ 100,000 , authorities said . `` Drug traffickers are always trying novel ways to conceal their contraband , '' said Claude Arnold , special agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 's Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles . `` But cocaine camouflaged as Easter candy is one of the more unusual tactics we 've come across . Obviously two days before Christmas , this defendant did n't expect his trip would end with federal officers conducting an Easter egg hunt , '' he said in a statement . Galtes told the officers that the eggs were for his two children , federal authorities said . `` This smuggling attempt and interception should give notice to all persons involved in this illicit trade to think twice when attempting to smuggle cocaine or other prohibited drugs/items into LAX , '' Carlos Martel , acting director of Los Angeles field operations for Customs and Border Protection , said in a statement . Homeland Security investigators are continuing to look into the smuggling operation , officials said .
A smuggler thought the eggs would be an ideal place to conceal cocaine . But the U.S. government thought the candies were odd , two days before Christmas . Agents cut open up the eggs and found cocaine .