PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two women are facing felony drug charges after customs officials say they each tried to smuggle about 50 pounds of marijuana on international flights out of Philadelphia International Airport.
Credit Fredo, a 3-year-old German shepherd at PHL whom Customs and Border Protection officials say sniffed out baggage containing marijuana on March 16-17.
Authorities said they seized 41 pounds of pot on March 16, and Pennsylvania State Police arrested Olgalisa Taveras, 40, of Yonkers, New York at the departure gate of a London-bound flight.
The next day, CBP seized 56 pounds of marijuana. PSP arrested Chelsea Anita Cromwell, 54, from Forestville, California as she tried to board a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Officials also said Cromwell’s bags had about 500 grams of hashish products.
CBP said officers identified both suspects based on the baggage tags on the seized luggage. All told, officials have estimated the street value of the seized pot at $375,000.
Cromwell and Taveras have both been charged with felony possession with intent to distribute.
