Shock find in man’s suitcase to Australia

A 31-year-old man from the US was en route to Sydney when he tried to check in two suitcases when customs officers became suspicious of his bags.

A US man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after he allegedly tried to check in two suitcases filled with clothing soaked in methamphetamine, including a cow onesie, US justice officials said.

Raj Matharu, 31, from California, was preparing to board a United Airlines flight to Sydney, on November 6, when his bags passed through X-ray machines.

Customs offers became suspicious and opened them up when they discovered the creative ways he allegedly tried to smuggle dangerous narcotics.

More than a dozen items of clothing were dried stiff and covered in a white residue.

“Drug dealers are continually inventing creative ways of smuggling dangerous narcotics in pursuit of illicit profit — as alleged in the facts of this case,” US Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement.

A US man arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after he allegedly tried to check in two suitcases filled with clothing soaked in methamphetamine. Picture: U.S. attorney’s office

“In the process, they are poisoning communities throughout the world. Law enforcement is committed to fighting drug trafficking, knowing that every seizure saves lives.”

Officers field-tested a sample of the residue, which yielded positive results for meth. The total weight of the meth-soaked clothing items was roughly 32kg, the publication reported.

Officers found white residue on five white T-shirts, eight pairs of women’s underwear, 19 pairs of socks, two sports bras, three tops, two towels, one cardigan sweater, one hoodie, one fleece sweater, the onesie cow pyjama and two sweaters.

Meanwhile, in a seperate suitcase, they found white residue on items, including two towels, six pairs of socks, and five boxers.

In a sworn affidavit, Homeland Security Investigations agent Megan Palmer wrote in part: “I believe in this instance the white methamphetamine was ‘washed’ into the white clothing and left to dry.”

“Based on my training and experience,” Palmer added, “I know that over time in a room temperature or cold environment, the solution would evaporate and then the powdered methamphetamine would separate from the shirt, forming a white residue.”

LA Times reported the US man was taken into custody on November 7 and charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

He was released on a $US10,000 ($A15,000) bond secured by a relative.

If convicted, Matharu would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

– with AFP