A woman was arrested at Miami International Airport after authorities said she attempted to board a flight to London with more than 65 pounds of marijuana packed inside her luggage.
Begum Mulazimoglu, 22, was taken into custody Monday while preparing to depart on a Virgin Atlantic flight, according to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound inspections selected two hard-sided suitcases for screening after detecting what they described as a strong odor of marijuana. The bags — one brown and one black — were tagged to Mulazimoglu, investigators said.
When officers opened the luggage, they found dozens of black, vacuum-sealed packages containing a green, leafy substance that later tested positive for marijuana. Authorities said a total of 60 bundles were recovered from the suitcases.
An X-ray examination also revealed two Apple tracking devices concealed inside the luggage, one in each bag, according to the report.
In all, officers seized approximately 65.43 pounds of marijuana. Investigators also said Mulazimoglu was carrying $330 in U.S. currency and 530 British pounds, valued at about $713.
Mulazimoglu was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she was booked on a charge of trafficking marijuana valued at more than $30,000.
During a bond hearing Tuesday, a judge reviewed the allegations and remarked on the amount of drugs involved and the planned international flight. Mulazimoglu’s attorney told the court that his client had no prior criminal history and did not challenge probable cause after reviewing the arrest affidavit.
Prosecutors requested a $15,000 bond. The judge ultimately set bond at $10,000.
