Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained the pair at /*Los Angeles International Airport*/ after they arrived from Panama on Tuesday, March 15.
One man had ropes he claimed he used on a fishing boat, and the other had 40 backpacks with cords attached.
Agents became suspicious because the ropes and cords were stiff and gave off a chemical odor. The items turned out to be saturated with more than 21 pounds of cocaine.
The men, ages 20 and 21, are U.S. citizens.
