U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) intercepted a significant load of marijuana that a passenger attempted to smuggle to London on February 25th.

During inspection of luggage for a flight bound for Reykjavik, Iceland, CBP officers discovered 30 vacuum-sealed packages containing a total of 31 pounds, 14 ounces of marijuana inside a passenger’s suitcase.

The seized marijuana, intended for eventual transit to London, has an estimated street value of up to $150,000 in the United States. However, it could potentially fetch two to three times more once reaching European markets.

“Marijuana may be decriminalized in some states; however, bulk smuggling remains illegal federally, and Customs and Border Protection officers will continue to seize marijuana when we encounter it,” stated Adam Rottman, CBP’s Area Port Director for Baltimore.

The passenger, identified as a 22-year-old woman from California, has not been criminally charged at this stage. However, law enforcement authorities are conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into the smuggling attempt.

Despite the lack of immediate charges, Rottman warned, “Smugglers gamble with their freedom to chase a few extra bucks. CBP officers will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold smugglers accountable.”

The seizure at BWI underscores CBP’s ongoing efforts to interdict illegal drug trafficking through enhanced screening measures at international airports and borders within its jurisdiction.