Charlotte Airport in North Carolina is a hotspot for seizing illicit drugs coming into the country (it is unclear what type of drugs the latest 70-pound seizure was made up of).
WSOC-TV reported "So far this year, more than 2,300 pounds of drugs have been seized at the airport, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Channel 9 Crime Reporter Hunter Sáenz got a behind-the-scenes look at the work they do and the success they’ve seen. Some of the things they’ve seized have led investigators to violent gangs around the country and notorious cartels in Mexico."
Saenz reported that Morizio's team finds drugs and cash often stashed in suitcases. The Homeland Security teams work hard to stop forbidden substances from entering the United States.
Morizio also explained, “All that stuff that we seized, and we’re talking hundreds of kilos of you name the drug -- that’s out on your streets, that’s poisoning our citizens here, right here in Charlotte.”
Airports function not only as gateways for holidaymakers, but they can also be used as smuggling gateways by criminals.
Even so, the 2,300 pounds of seized drugs is actually down when compared with last year. Authorities say there has been significant progress in reducing drug trafficking at the Charlotte Airport.
The overwhelming majority of drugs seized at Charlotte Airport is marijuana and this has fallen at the airport in 2024 relative to 2023.
Meanwhile, in the world, outside of the airport, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department stats show the amount of marijuana seized is down by 64% in 2024 compared to 2023 (perhaps partially due to increased interceptions at the airport).
As marijuana remains illegal under federal law and airports are government by federal law, flying with marijuana remains illegal (regardless of the laws in the state).
According to the TSA, marijuana and certain cannabis-infused products, including some Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, remain illegal under federal law except for products that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by the FDA.
While most airports in Colorado allow passengers to pass with public possession of marijuana in public areas of the airport, passengers are not permitted to pass through federally controlled TSA zones (including at Denver International Airport).
"TSA’s screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer." - TSA
Passengers may not be arrested for the possession of small recreational amounts of marijuana, the same is not true of people smuggling large amounts of it.
In December 2024, a woman was arrested at Washington Dulles after smuggling 71 pound of marijuana through the airport.
