A student hailing from the UK was caught attempting to smuggle over a dozen meth-laden Target T-shirts in her luggage at Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month.
Myah Saakwa-Mante, 20, made a brief stop in LA while en route to meet her boyfriend for the first time in Australia, as reported by CBS News.
On November 2, airport officers observed that an X-ray machine had indicated irregularities in her luggage. Upon inspection, they reportedly discovered shirts heavily coated with methamphetamine, according to the station.
The white T-shirts, as stated in court documents, were reportedly concealed beneath the suitcase’s internal lining and likely held several kilograms of the illegal substance that had become interwoven with the fabric.
“The documents indicated that the suspected methamphetamine had become caked into the T-shirts due to the moisture, making separation impossible.”
The shirts, saturated with meth, reportedly weighed close to 30 pounds by themselves, as stated by Fox News.
Customs officials intercepted her at the gate and inquired about the suitcase — however, Saakwa-Mante reportedly claimed no awareness of the drug-laced shirts.
Saakwa-Mante acknowledged purchasing the shirts and even provided receipts, according to CBS.
Fox reported that officials escorted her to the bag inspection zone, confiscated her two mobile devices, and took her into custody.
According to the affidavit, Special Agent Omar Yasin from Homeland Security Investigations stated that the meth was initially in powder form before being treated with a solvent and subsequently incorporated into the t-shirts.
Saakwa-Mante faces serious charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine and is now in federal custody.
