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Du Li Park, 30, of The Colony, Texas, was stopped on Nov. 23 as US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers inspected baggage for a London-bound flight, leading to an unexpected discovery.
According to CBP, two hard-sided suitcases belonging to Park contained 60 vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, weighing a combined 71 pounds and 11 ounces (32.52 kilograms).
Authorities estimate the street value of the marijuana to be $330,000 in the US, while officials noted the load could fetch two to three times more in London due to higher prices for high-quality marijuana.
MWAA Police charged Park with:
- Felony possession with intent to distribute;
- Transporting controlled substances into the Commonwealth;
- Narcotics conspiracy.
CBP officers escorted Park and her suitcases from the departure gate to an inspection station, where the marijuana was confirmed and handed over to MWAA Police.
“Bulk marijuana smuggling is illegal, and Customs and Border Protection will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold smugglers accountable,” Marc Calixte, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, DC stated.
Authorities said they are seeing an increasing trend of bulk marijuana being smuggled from the United States to Europe, where it commands a significantly higher price.
Recent cases include seizures of 43 pounds, 53 pounds, and 88 pounds of marijuana or hashish in passengers’ baggage on international flights.
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