Man accused of trying to smuggle methamphetamine-laced clothing on a flight from LAX to Australia

Prosecutors indicted a California man on Tuesday after he tried to smuggle more than 70 pounds of methamphetamine-laced clothing onto a plane to Australia from Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month.

Raj Matharu, 31, of Northridge, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to prosecutors. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Prosecutors accused Matheru of possessing two suitcases containing several items of clothing covered with methamphetamine.

Court documents obtained by USA TODAY show Matharu checked the suitcases, one pink and one gray, on his Nov. 6 United Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Sydney, Australia. After Matharu handed over both bags to United Airlines, prosecutors said screening officers who x-rayed the bags noticed “irregularities.”

Screening agents then searched the suitcases for a secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, according to court documents.

“Upon opening the suitcases, law enforcement discovered they contained several white or light-colored items of clothing that had been dried and covered with a white residue,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday.

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Prosecutors said law enforcement field tested a sample of white residue that tested positive for methamphetamine. Prosecutors said the total weight of the clothing items was approximately 71.5 pounds, and officers later recovered more than two pounds of methamphetamine from the suitcases.

Court documents show the methamphetamine-laced clothing included items ranging from shirts and sweaters to socks and boxer shorts. It also included a set of onesie pajamas resembling a cow. Court documents indicate that the clothes were most likely “washed” in methamphetamine and left to dry.

CBP officers intercepted Matharu on the jet bridge as he tried to board the plane, where he admitted he owned the suitcases and was later arrested, according to court documents.

Matharu is free on $10,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles, prosecutors said. If convicted of the charges, he could face at least 10 years in federal prison.

Other recent drug scandals

Tuesday’s indictment is the latest in a number of drug trafficking cases across the country in which suspects have been accused of using various tricks to smuggle illegal drugs.

Several cases made national headlines in August, including the seizure of over 2,500 pounds of methamphetamine hidden among boxes of celery in the cargo area of ​​a truck. The wholesale value of the seizure was approximately $3.2 million, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In another incident, CBP officers discovered 1,220 packages containing 4,587 pounds of methamphetamine worth more than $5 million. There were packages dressed as watermelons– says CBP.

CBP said a 29-year-old man was applying to enter the U.S. from Mexico and was selected for additional screening. A watermelon was removed from the man’s truck for further examination, during which officers discovered packages filled with methamphetamine.

A California man was also arrested in early August and charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as other drug-related charges. Prosecutors alleged that the man was associated with approx attempted to transport over 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine which was intended for Australia.

In addition, six men were accused of belonging to the “drug empire”. hid millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine and cocaine in Bluetooth karaoke speakers and smuggled drug-filled devices from California to Pennsylvania, state officials said.

According to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn, the men were members of the Byrne Drug Trafficking Organization, which moved approximately $5 million worth of drugs over a six-month period. Members of the organization face a number of drug and corruption charges, Schorn said.

Contributors: Gabe Hauari, Jonathan Limehouse and Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared in the Ventura County Star: Man accused of trying to smuggle methamphetamine-laced clothes on a LAX flight