At least three people are accused in a drug ring that US federal agents say was attempting to smuggle cocaine through the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in North Carolina from Jamaica.
The investigation began in February when 24-year-old Marrisea Hawkins of Maryland arrived at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport on a flight from Jamaica.
While she was being screened, a US Customs and Border Protection officer noticed she seemed nervous.
During a pat-down search, Miss Hawkins admitted she had drugs concealed in a section of her body.
She told federal agents she was supposed to meet someone at the airport and give her the drugs in a bathroom.
More than two months later, federal agents were contacted about a man arriving at the same airport on a flight from Jamaica, who agents said had connections to Ms. Hawkins and could be transporting drugs.
When 26-year-old Kenneth Andre Latham Jr. arrived in Charlotte, he was inspected.
He said he had been in Jamaica visiting his girlfriend, who was travelling to Charlotte on a later flight.
When authorities searched the roster of the next flight from Jamaica, they found Lena Blanche Boykin, a first-time international traveler who was unemployed and traveling alone.
Ms. Boykin told agents Mr. Latham had come to her home in Maryland and offered her US$2,000 to smuggle cocaine from Jamaica.
Mr. Latham was taken into custody and charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.
Ms. Hawkins was charged in February with trafficking cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver.
All feeds
