Over 200 Pounds of Marijuana Seized in Orlando Airport Drug Busts
Suspects allegedly used superglue, dryer sheets, and ripped luggage tags in attempts to smuggle marijuana from Los Angeles.
Authorities have seized more than 200 pounds of marijuana in two separate drug busts at Orlando International Airport (MCO) over the summer. The marijuana was flown from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Orlando, according to police records. Undercover officers with the Orlando Police Department (OPD), aided by drug-sniffing K-9s, intercepted the shipments.
In one incident on May 7, officers discovered 57.6 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were reportedly packed into 50 vacuum-sealed bags, wrapped in blankets, and stuffed with dryer sheets in an apparent effort to conceal the odor. In a subsequent bust on July 1, police found 144.4 pounds of marijuana. These suitcases were found to have locks that had been entirely glued shut.
Investigators identified the suspects as individuals in their 20s, who are now facing felony drug trafficking charges. The smugglers allegedly employed tactics such as using superglue and altered luggage tags to evade detection. Dryer sheets were also reportedly used to mask the smell of the marijuana.
According to Keith Jeffries, vice president of K2 Security Screening Group and a former TSA federal security director at LAX and deputy federal security director at MCO, drug smuggling can occur through various methods. These can include collusion with airport or airline employees or the use of "drug mules." However, Jeffries noted that the specific methods used in these particular cases are not yet clear.
Jeffries also suggested that law enforcement might have received a tip from a confidential informant regarding certain individuals or bags. He stated that "drug trafficking can happen on any domestic route — and it does." He added that Orlando's status as a major tourist destination could make it a target for traffickers who might incorrectly assume lax security.
Jeffries clarified that TSA officers do not conduct searches specifically for illegal drugs. Instead, any suspected narcotics found during screening are referred to law enforcement. "The TSA's administrative search authority is very, very narrow and very specific," he said, emphasizing that TSA agents identify unknown substances and then alert law enforcement for further investigation and validation.