U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted two separate marijuana smuggling attempts at Philadelphia International Airport on March 16 and 17, leading to the arrest of two women who now face felony drug possession charges.
The seizures involved a total of 97 pounds of marijuana discovered in baggage being loaded onto flights destined for Europe. According to officials, CBP narcotics detector dog Fredo alerted officers to the presence of drugs. Olgalisa Taveras, age 40 from Yonkers, New York, was stopped before boarding a flight to London on March 16. Chelsea Anita Cromwell, age 54 from Forestville, California, was stopped as she attempted to board a flight to Frankfurt on March 17. Officers identified both women through baggage tags associated with their checked luggage.
In addition to the marijuana found in Cromwell’s bags—totaling about 56 pounds—officers also discovered approximately 500 grams of hashish products. The combined street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $375,000.
Elliott N. Ortiz, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director in Philadelphia said: “These arrests should be a wake-up call to would be smugglers that Customs and Border Protection officers will find you and we will work with our law enforcement partners to hold you accountable. Don’t be a fool and rot in jail for uncaring transnational criminal organizations who treat mules as disposable labor.”
Authorities report that transnational criminal organizations are increasingly attempting to transport marijuana through passenger baggage and express air delivery channels bound for Europe due to higher profits abroad.
Officials remind travelers that despite some states decriminalizing marijuana use or possession for medicinal or recreational purposes, it remains illegal under federal law and cannot be transported across state lines or exported from the United States. Criminal charges are allegations only; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
