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Almost five pounds of the deadly opioid fentanyl was discovered by Transportation Security Administration agents in checked bags that were flying into Nashville’s Airport (BNA) this week.
TSA found a large package in the checked luggage of passenger Reem Ibrahim. The security officers believed it was marijuana, and they also found two kilogram-sized bundles wrapped in plastic. TSA alerted the Drug Enforcement Administration, who warned law enforcement on the ground in Nashville about the suspicious suitcases.
Ibrahim, 22, was stopped by the police when she claimed the two pieces of luggage in Nashville. The officers searched her suitcases and found one of the bags contained 25 pounds of marijuana and two kilogram-sized packages that were later discovered to be fentanyl. Officials say that quantity equals about 1 million fatal does of the dangerous opioid. Law enforcement initially field-tested the fentanyl and believed it was cocaine. Officers also discovered Ibrahim’s second suitcase was concealing an additional 25 pounds of marijuana.
The woman claims she was promised $1,000 to bring the bags to Nashville from Phoenix and that she didn’t know what was inside. Ibrahim was arrested and charged with possession and intent to resell cocaine and marijuana. The cocaine charge will later be corrected to fentanyl.
Drug smuggling attempts from airline passengers are not that uncommon — though most drug mules are usually caught by the authorities. In August, for example, a Missouri nun was busted at Sydney’s airport (SYD) trying to smuggle cocaine in her high heeled shoe. And earlier in October, a Cypriot tourist was arrested, also at SYD, for trying to smuggle $3.5 million worth of meth into the country.
Source: thepointsguy.com