Las Vegas woman was arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport on Sunday after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered more than 59 pounds of marijuana in her checked baggage bound for Frankfurt, Germany.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Aleshia Anne Pinheiro, was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police and charged with felony counts of transporting a controlled substance into the Commonwealth of Virginia and possession with intent to distribute.
According to CBP, officers inspecting luggage loaded onto the Germany-bound flight found numerous vacuum-sealed packages inside two hard-sided suitcases. The passenger was identified via baggage tags and detained at the departure gate. A subsequent secondary inspection revealed 50 vacuum-sealed packages containing a green leafy substance that later tested positive for marijuana.
The total weight of the marijuana was approximately 26.88 kilograms (59 pounds, 4 ounces), with an estimated U.S. street value of $240,000. CBP officials noted that such quantities of high-potency cannabis can command significantly higher prices in European markets.
“Anyone considering making a quick buck by carrying bulk marijuana loads for drug trafficking organizations should realize that the consequences you face can be severe when Customs and Border Protection officers catch you,” said Christine Waugh, CBP’s Area Port Director for Washington, D.C.
CBP reports an ongoing trend in which transnational criminal organizations attempt to smuggle marijuana through both commercial air travel and express air shipments to Europe, where demand for high-quality cannabis remains strong.
Despite legalization and decriminalization efforts in various U.S. states, marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Federal regulations also prohibit its transportation across state lines or export from the country.
CBP transferred custody of both the suspect and the seized narcotics to MWAA Police for further investigation and prosecution.
Officials emphasized that all criminal charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
According to CBP data, officers nationwide seized an average of over 1,500 pounds of illegal narcotics per day in 2024 at various ports of entry.
