A Las Vegas woman was arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers found more than 59 pounds of marijuana in her luggage intended for a flight to Germany.
Authorities identified the passenger as Aleshia Anne Pinheiro, 42. Officers from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police charged her with transporting a controlled substance into the Commonwealth and possession with intent to distribute, both felonies.
CBP officers detected numerous vacuum-sealed packages during an inspection of baggage being loaded onto a Frankfurt-bound flight. After identifying Pinheiro through baggage tags, officers detained her at the departure gate and brought her and her checked bags to CBP’s inspection station for further examination.
A secondary search revealed 50 vacuum-sealed packages containing a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana. The total weight was about 26.88 kilograms, or just over 59 pounds, with an estimated street value of $240,000. According to officials, marijuana shipments like this can fetch two to three times more on the European market depending on potency.
CBP reports that criminal organizations are increasingly attempting to move marijuana through passenger baggage and express air delivery services bound for Europe due to higher profits overseas. Despite changes in state laws regarding marijuana use in some parts of the United States, federal law still prohibits possession and transport of marijuana across state lines or export from the country.
Pinheiro and the seized drugs were handed over to MWAA Police. Authorities noted that criminal charges are allegations until proven in court.
“Anyone considering making a quick buck by carrying bulk marijuana loads for drug trafficking organizations should realize that the consequences you face can be severe when Customs and Border Protection officers catch you,” said Christine Waugh, Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Washington, D.C. “CBP will continue to seize these marijuana loads to deprive transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold drug mules accountable.”
On average last year, CBP officers and agents seized about 1,571 pounds of dangerous drugs each day at ports of entry nationwide. More information about other types of drugs intercepted by CBP is available through their enforcement statistics page.
CBP’s mission at ports of entry involves screening international travelers and cargo for narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit goods, prohibited agriculture items, invasive species, pests, and other products that could pose risks to public safety or economic interests in the United States.
Additional details about CBP operations can be found on their official website: www.CBP.gov.
