Englishman’s Stay in Philly no holiday Customs Officers Seize Marijuana

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested an English traveler and seized 44.6 grams of marijuana he was carrying at Philadelphia International Airport on Aug. 13.
Loxley Charles, 22, arrived to Philadelphia about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13 from Jamaica. He was waiting to catch a connecting flight to the United Kingdom when a CBP narcotics K-9 alerted that Charles could be carrying narcotics. During questioning, Charles admitted to the K-9 officer that he had marijuana, according to a release.
CBP Criminal Enforcement Unit officers escorted Charles to passport control secondary where they conducted a pat down and discovered a bundle of tightly-wound, green, leafy substance. The substance, weighing about an ounce and a half, tested positive for marijuana.
CBP officers arrested Charles and turned him and the marijuana over to Philadelphia Police officers.
“Charles may have felt immune from U.S. law because he was only transferring airplanes here, but this should be a lesson to all travelers, U.S. and foreign alike, that U.S. law enforcement doesn’t take a holiday,” said Allan Martocci, CBP Philadelphia area port director.
Travelers should visit CBP’s Know before You Go website at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/ before arriving to the United States to better understand specific reporting requirements and products that are admissible to help expedite their immigration and customs processing upon arrival.