Marijuana smuggling on a cruise ship: 112 bags of drugs found in cabins of two passengers
Law enforcement officers stopped the Norwegian Joy cruise ship from Miami to the UK to search the belongings of two passengers. They were found to be in possession of more than 100 bags of marijuana, the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
During a search of the cabins of two passengers, Michael Quesenberry and Savannah Rose Minami, 56 bags of loose substance were found in each of them. According to Business Insider, the total weight of the "find" was 71.9 kilogrammes.
Quesenberry stated that the marijuana was for personal use, not for sale, and that he had a medical card authorizing the use of the drug. Minami also denied the charges.
Four suitcases, two hand luggage and two backpacks were found in their cabins. A sniffer dog helped to detect the packages containing a "green substance with leaves".
They were released on bail of $250,000 and $150,000, and surrendered their passports, but if convicted, each faces up to 80 years in prison or a $4 million fine.
"Based on my training and experience, drug traffickers are increasingly turning to exporting marijuana from the United States to England because of the higher price of marijuana in England," the DHS special agent said in his sworn testimony.