More than 200lb of marijuana has been seized in two alleged smuggling operations at Orlando International Airport, after police intercepted luggage arriving on domestic flights from Los Angeles.
Orlando Police Department officers, working with drug-sniffing dogs, recovered a combined 202lb of cannabis from seven suitcases in separate incidents on 7 May and 1 July, according to court documents.
In the first case, investigators said Alvonte Cooper collected two large cases from baggage belt 30 before tearing off the airline tags and throwing them away. A search allegedly uncovered 57.6lb of marijuana divided among 50 vacuum-sealed bags.
The packages were wrapped in blankets and surrounded by dryer sheets, which police believe were intended to mask the smell of the drugs.
Marijuana seized at Orlando airport
In the second seizure, officers found 144.4lb of marijuana spread across five suitcases. The locks on the cases had allegedly been glued shut, in what investigators believe was another attempt to avoid detection.
Michael Cluck, a retired US Border Patrol intelligence agent, said criminal groups often use domestic flights because they avoid the scrutiny associated with international border crossings.
“They can still exploit the border, get into the domestic areas, such as cities, such as places that are away from that border scrutiny,” he said. “Once they get there, it becomes bulk into the United States. Then they break it up and put it in packages.”
Cluck said glue and other concealment methods were unlikely to defeat trained detection dogs, which are capable of identifying the odour of drugs even when luggage has been treated or sealed.
The Transportation Security Administration said its main responsibility was aviation security, including the detection of explosives, weapons and other items that could threaten aircraft, passengers or airport operations.
Checked bags are generally screened before being loaded on to aircraft, the agency said, adding that suspicious luggage or possible criminal activity is referred to local airport police.
Court records show that Avante Garrick, 25, has been charged with drug trafficking and bringing marijuana into Florida. Cooper, 22, faces charges including drug trafficking, importing marijuana and using commercial travel to commit a crime.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
