AGENT CBP_K9_OFFICER MAN OFFICER OFFICER_AKIMOVA OFFICER_AXSON OFFICER_BRITO OFFICER_DURAN OFFICER_GATICA OFFICER_PACHECO OFFICER_RODRIGUEZ OFFICER_ROSARIO OFFICER_SHAEFER OFFICER_TAI PASSENGER POLICE_OFFICER SECTION_CHIEF_WATSON SPECIAL_AGENT_PATRICK SPECIAL_AGENT_STEPHEN SUPERVISORY_OFFICER_JOSEPH SUPERVISORY_OFFICER_RAIO SUPERVISORY_OFFICER_STYLES SUPERVISORY_SPECIAL_AGENT_BRIAN TRAVELER OFFICER GATICA Put it in park, please. What are you all bringing from Mexico? TRAVELER Nothing. OFFICER GATICA So, nothing to declare? TRAVELER No. OFFICER GATICA Have a good day. TRAVELER You, too. Thank you. OFFICER AKIMOVA Hello. Where are you going today? TRAVELER I'm going home. TRAVELER San Diego. OFFICER AKIMOVA What did you do in Mexico? TRAVELER Visited family. OFFICER AKIMOVA Okay. When was the last time you crossed the border? TRAVELER I don't know. It should be in the file. OFFICER AKIMOVA Well, why don't you tell me? TRAVELER I don't cross because I'm busy. OFFICER AKIMOVA You're busy? TRAVELER I can give you my Social Security and maybe you. OFFICER AKIMOVA What are you talking about? TRAVELER I'm saying, like. TRAVELER 'Cause my dad's name. TRAVELER His name is Javier. TRAVELER I'm Javier. OFFICER AKIMOVA I'm not asking you about your dad's name. How often do you cross the border? OFFICER AKIMOVA He avoided my questions. He doesn't have many crossings and he's nervous. Okay. What are you bringing with you? TRAVELER I have dirty clothes in my trunk. OFFICER AKIMOVA Okay. All right. Does the trunk open? All right, just park your car and open it. TRAVELER Yes. OFFICER AKIMOVA He said there's dirty clothes there, but it's empty. OFFICER AKIMOVA I don't like it, so I'm about to send the individual back for a secondary inspection. We'll see if he has something that I can't see here. OFFICER DURAN Not every vehicle comes through like that with all that mud on the bottom. OFFICER DURAN Sometimes they spray fake mud under the vehicle to maybe hide a non-factory compartment. It's not that it's not normal, it is, right? Because there's a lot of mud and dirt roads in Mexico. However, it almost looks too perfect. We're gonna open the hood, okay? TRAVELER You don't need my keys? OFFICER DURAN Um, just leave them here. TRAVELER It's actually a new car, so I'm not really familiar. OFFICER DURAN When did you get the vehicle? TRAVELER Last 20th. OFFICER DURAN So, you've had it for less than a month now? TRAVELER Yeah. OFFICER DURAN Okay. All right. Do me a favor, just go ahead stand on that table over there, where the other officers are at. Thank you. He stated that he just bought the car on the 20th of last month. He didn't even know how to open the hood. A good indicator that it may not be his vehicle, maybe he's just driving it in. We'll do a quick 7-point, make sure there's no tampering or any compartments that may be concealing any illegal narcotics OFFICER DURAN Looks good? POLICE OFFICER It's good. OFFICER DURAN Yeah. POLICE OFFICER Hands up! POLICE OFFICER Looks like they found something on him. POLICE OFFICER Do you have any other weapons in the vehicle? POLICE OFFICER Any other weapons? POLICE OFFICER He's got a knife. POLICE OFFICER You have a knife in your right pocket? TRAVELER Yeah. POLICE OFFICER Got him. OFFICER DURAN The driver of the vehicle, due to his nervous behavior, we conducted an immediate pat down. We found a pocketknife in his right pocket and he also had a gun on the back of his waistband. So, he was taken to a more secure area. That way we can check him thoroughly. The weapon appears to be customized. That's what we consider a ghost gun. That's where the serial number should be, uh, when you purchase, uh, a firearm, legally. Pretty much the individual purchased separate pieces of a firearm and assembled it. OFFICER DURAN What's gonna happen is we're gonna seize the weapon and it's gonna be sent to one of our vaults for further processing, possibly even destroyed. Had he done this the right way, purchased the gun, registering it, declaring it, and having proper permits to cross it, everything would've been fine. We have to be safe, we have to be sure that he does not attempt to do this again. Because next time it may be loaded. OFFICER TAI Let me see where the plane is at. E6. We're at the arrival gate to meet a flight coming in from Kingston, Jamaica. OFFICER TAI Jamaica is definitely a country of interest for us because it acts as a transit point for illegal narcotics. There have been several seizures in the past. OFFICER Hey, how you doing? PASSENGER Good. OFFICER Are you traveling alone? PASSENGER No. I'm with my husband. OFFICER Okay. OFFICER Because most people are here for legitimate reasons, you can't approach everyone as though they are, are guilty. How you doing today, ma'am? PASSENGER I'm okay. OFFICER Can I see your passport, please? I'm a bigger guy. I work out a little bit so I know I have to approach people a little bit more of a kiddie gloves just because I don't want them to be intimidated by my presence. OFFICER You hope that they reply in that way and we can begin to at least assess if this person is trying to bring any harm or any contraband into our country. OFFICER Step over here, please. OFFICER How are you doing, man? OFFICER Anybody traveling with you? PASSENGER No. OFFICER Where do you live? PASSENGER What? OFFICER Where do you live? PASSENGER Bermuda. OFFICER Where are you coming from? PASSENGER Montego Bay. OFFICER Do me a favor, just wait right here. OFFICER I was born in Montego Bay, what part of it? OFFICER Let's ask him. OFFICER What part of Jamaica were you in? PASSENGER Brownstown. OFFICER Brownstown. OFFICER You heard of that? OFFICER Where is that by? PASSENGER It's like along. OFFICER It's up in the hill? It's kind of, is it up in the hills? Where Mo Bay is where the beach and all the tour attractions are. PASSENGER Brownstown. OFFICER Brownstown. You have to go up into the hills? PASSENGER I think so. OFFICER Up into the mountain? PASSENGER I think. OFFICER You think or you know? He claims that he went to visit his mother, but we noticed he grew increasingly nervous, and hesitated during questioning. He just seemed a bit off. How many people, how big is that house? PASSENGER I’d say a two bedroom. PASSENGER Right, it's just decent. Just. OFFICER Two bedroom? How many people live in the house? PASSENGER Just me and my mom. OFFICER Huh? PASSENGER Just me and my mom. OFFICER You don't live there. PASSENGER No. I live in Bermuda. OFFICER Just your mom? PASSENGER Yeah. OFFICER How long she been there? PASSENGER I think a year now? OFFICER Some of his responses and his behavior are not indicative of someone who is traveling for tourism. OFFICER How many bags do you have? PASSENGER One. OFFICER We'll check your bags, all right? OFFICER His story seemed off, so we're gonna bring him down to passport control, have some more conversation with him and have him explain what he was really doing in Jamaica, and take a closer look in his bags. OFFICER PACHECO Where are you guys coming from? TRAVELER Cabo. OFFICER PACHECO Cabo? So it's like a little spring break over there? TRAVELER Yeah. OFFICER PACHECO Okay. Have a good one. TRAVELER Thank you! SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES There has been an uptick in travel. Mainly because of spring break. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES So, we are getting flights that are fairly full coming back in. SUPERVISORY OFFICER JOSEPH We get a lot of travelers coming in from Cancun, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic. SUPERVISORY OFFICER JOSEPH Pretty much all over the Caribbean. They go down there to party for the weekend. And anytime there's a busy travel period, it's a good time for the cartel to send massive loads through. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Do you have your passport? All right. Come with me. OFFICER AXSON All right, so all these bags are yours? TRAVELER Yeah. OFFICER AXSON Did anyone give you anything to bring back to the United States? TRAVELER No. OFFICER AXSON Take a step back to that green line. OFFICER AXSON He's gonna have the dog come by your bags, okay? CBP K9 OFFICER Something. CBP K9 OFFICER Good boy. CBP K9 OFFICER Dog hit on it. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES This female came off of the flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica. The K9 did alert, so we are looking for any type of controlled substance inside these bags. So what do you do for a living? TRAVELER I'm a student. TRAVELER I'm gonna major in dental assisting. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Oh, God, where is it? OFFICER AXSON I know. I smell it. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Wait, wait, wait. Marijuana. CBP K9 OFFICER Good boy. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES So outside of this little bit of marijuana, do you have any more in the bag? TRAVELER That's it. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES You think that's it? TRAVELER I really forgot that that was even in there. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Because in a lot of states, marijuana is decriminalized, people believe it's okay to import across country lines. The problem is it is still a controlled substance. It is still not permissible to be transported into the United States. OFFICER AXSON Weed. OFFICER AXSON She packed it in the socks. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Oh, no. OFFICER AXSON So, she knew it was in there. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Of course. All right. So you did have more. OFFICER Your bag should be coming over there. What do you do for work? PASSENGER I'm a landscaper. OFFICER What did you tell your boss? PASSENGER Hmm? OFFICER What did you tell your boss? PASSENGER He gave me two weeks vacation. OFFICER But you were there for how long? PASSENGER Nineteen days. OFFICER That's more than two weeks, right? PASSENGER Yeah. PASSENGER But he'll be alright. OFFICER Let's go ahead and grab your bag. OFFICER Come on. Let's go. Follow me. How much money you got with you today? PASSENGER Maybe like, $80. PASSENGER 'Cause I had to pay for my suitcase. OFFICER Well, that is a special bag. How many bags did you bring to Jamaica? PASSENGER One. PASSENGER That was a carry-on bag. OFFICER Oh. So the one you brought to Jamaica was a carry on. What color was it? PASSENGER It was green. OFFICER It was green. All right. So, you got this bag in Jamaica, right? PASSENGER Yeah. OFFICER All right. OFFICER Put your bags up here. OFFICER Is this a new bag? OFFICER Where'd you buy it? OFFICER Where'd you buy it? OFFICER Where'd you get this bag? PASSENGER My momma gave it to me. OFFICER Where? PASSENGER She bought it for me. OFFICER He would hesitate to every question I would ask him. So, it led me to believe that he was hiding something. OFFICER When you first got there, she gave you this bag? What happened to the bag that you brought to Jamaica? The green bag? PASSENGER I kept it over there. OFFICER What happened? PASSENGER I kept it out there. OFFICER Why? Why did you not just bring that bag back? Why didn't you bring the. PASSENGER My mom bought me a new one. OFFICER Why? PASSENGER That one was old, it was ripping all apart. OFFICER So, when did she buy you this bag? PASSENGER When I first got there. PASSENGER She had it for me when I first got there. OFFICER Oh, she had it waiting for you when you first got there? Oh, okay. PASSENGER I don't know where she got it from. I never asked. OFFICER Oh. Okay. Cool. When you got there, she already knew that your bag was gonna be ripped? PASSENGER She just got me a new one. OFFICER Huh? PASSENGER She just got me a new one. OFFICER But you said she had the bag waiting on you when you got there, right? Why did she know that you needed a new bag? PASSENGER She didn't. OFFICER So, she just guessed? PASSENGER Yeah. OFFICER So, your mom really knows you well, right? To the point where she knew that your bag was going to be ripped before you got there, to provide you with this bag. Right? The suitcase that he's traveling with was purchased by his mother he was going to visit. What makes that a little bit odd is that it's inconsistent with the timeline of when she purchased it. It's just not making any sense. OFFICER Take your bag. OFFICER Follow him. OFFICER So, we're gonna do a more intensive examination of that particular bag to see if there's anything that could be concealed within it. OFC. MUBARAK Here at LAX, we're one of the higher-volume airports. So, we definitely receive quite a few referrals in the secondary. Thomas? Interviewing so many people really does key me into a lot of indicators. How's it going? MAN Good. OFC. MUBARAK Within the first five minutes I'm usually able to tell whether or not this person is gonna warrant further inspections. Okay, you were here for one week? MAN Yes. OFC. MUBARAK Okay, and then after that one week, where'd you go? MAN Punta Cana. OFC. MUBARAK Punta Cana? Okay. And now you're coming back? MAN Yes. OFC. MUBARAK And how long do you intend to be here? MAN One or two months. OFC. MUBARAK One or two months? Do you have a return ticket? Okay. So, I asked you how long are you gonna be here, you said one or two months. But if you have a return ticket then you know exactly how long you're gonna be here, right? MAN It's on my phone. OFC. MUBARAK Go ahead and show it to me. 25 of April. Is that what that says? MAN Yes. OFC. MUBARAK And you're traveling on ESTA today? MAN Yes. OFC. MUBARAK Thomas is traveling under the visa waiver program. It's an agreement the United States has with a few countries that allows them to waive the visa requirement for coming to the United States. OFC. MUBARAK What do you do for a living? MAN I finished work since one year. OFC. MUBARAK So, you haven't been employed for a year? In order to come to the United States, especially under the visa waiver program, you are required to be able to support yourself for the duration of the time you intend to be in the United Sates. So, Thomas is gonna warrant further inspection. What I'm handing you is a copy of our inspection notification sheet. This lets you know that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has the authority to check your electronics, search your bags, and to search you here at a port of entry. You understand? This is your copy. You can go ahead and read that. If I inspect the contents of your phone, am I gonna find anything in there to show me that you've been doing something different than what you told me? MAN Uh, find like what? OFC. MUBARAK Have you been working while you're in the United States? MAN No. OFC. MUBARAK No? Um, come with me to the back. We're gonna search your phone. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES All right. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Go ahead and repack, and then we'll make a determination as to what we are going to do. TRAVELER That's less than a gram, right? That's less than a gram. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES What does that have to do with anything? I'm trying to. TRAVELER You'll probably just throw it away. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Because it's less than a gram, you think I'm, we're just gonna throw it away? TRAVELER Because, I mean, I really forgot it was in there. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES But that's not what, forgetting it's in there and telling me because it's less than a gram I'm gonna throw it away, are two totally different statements. Why would you assume I'm just gonna throw drugs away? TRAVELER Well, that's what I was told. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES You need to stop listening to what these folks are telling you. These folks gon' steer you wrong. What is that? OFFICER AXSON It's just one pill that doesn't look like the rest. OFFICER AXSON Says 325. OFFICER AXSON I've seen 325 before. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES I know, I was just thinking the same thing. So what is this pill right here? Is this an Oxy pill? TRAVELER What, what's an Oxy pill? SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Oxycodone. Painkillers. TRAVELER Yes, it's for my arm. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES You have a prescription? TRAVELER That's my cousin's. She has a prescription. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Do you have a prescription? TRAVELER No. TRAVELER 'Cause they won't prescribe me. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Do you know why they won't prescribe it? Because they are highly addictive. I'm just gonna tell you, my thought of giving you discretion just went out the window, because you have this Oxy pill as well. With the opioid crisis, doctors can't give out those prescriptions like they used to because they are highly addictive. If you can't get the prescription, it's a possibility that you may have maxed out. We have no way of knowing that, so we are going to take possession of that and treat it as serious as it really is. OFFICER AXSON Get a pat down too? SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES Yeah. I need to find a female. All right, sweetheart, right over here. And then we are going to bring her to a search room and do a pat down. POLICE OFFICER Do you have a shirt on under this? POLICE OFFICER Pull that off, and take the hat off too. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES See if she has any additional controlled substances on her person. POLICE OFFICER All right, stand right there. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES She doesn't have any other items on her person. So we are going to take possession of the drugs. We did reach out to HSI and to the local authorities. They both declined prosecution. So we are going to issue a penalty against the person. So, this is what we're gonna do, we're gonna take that $5,000 fine and we're gonna mitigate it down to $500, and you will pay that today. TRAVELER Thank you. TRAVELER Thank God. TRAVELER Thank you! SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES But I'm gonna tell you, that Oxy pill almost had you in jail today. Ain't no weed worth going to jail. Ain't no Oxy pill worth going to jail. POLICE OFFICER You get a record like that. POLICE OFFICER You know that gonna stay on there for the rest of your life. POLICE OFFICER So think about it. TRAVELER Okay. SUPERVISORY OFFICER STYLES All right. Because she didn't have a past criminal history, we are going to mitigate the fee down to $500. And in all honesty, I do believe that after this situation, we won't see her with any drugs in the future. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Sir? Sir? Come with me. PASSENGER I have nothing with me. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ You have nothing? PASSENGER Nothing. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Nothing. What are we talking about nothing? PASSENGER Trust me, nothing. PASSENGER You can check everything. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Hey, listen to the questions. All right? When you say you have nothing with you what are you talking about? PASSENGER I don't know. Maybe weed or anything else. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Why would you tell me weed? PASSENGER I don't know. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Is there anything in here that I need to know about? PASSENGER Illegal stuff? OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Yeah. PASSENGER No. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ No? Have you been around it before, while you were here in the U.S.? PASSENGER Somebody offered me, yes. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Somebody offered you what? PASSENGER Weed. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Weed? PASSENGER Yes. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Did you have some? PASSENGER No, I didn't have some. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Where were you while you were in the U.S.? Where'd you go? PASSENGER Coachella. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ You were in Coachella? PASSENGER Yes. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ So you were around, all right. All right. You know what? It's a little leaf of marijuana. You were smoking weed at the festival? It's a yes or no question. PASSENGER I was, yes. Yeah, I was smoking it. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Thank you. And you're a visitor, right? PASSENGER Yes, I'm from Germany. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Federally, marijuana is illegal. PASSENGER Okay. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ You visit America first and then you go visit California. You're not supposed to be partaking in, now what does that mean? PASSENGER Oh, that's a German rap group. PASSENGER Now that I'm on T.V. I need to, uh. PASSENGER Make a commercial for them. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ You might want to take this a little bit more serious. PASSENGER Okay, yeah, sorry. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ You have work to go back to today? PASSENGER Next week, university. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Next week you have to be, all right? PASSENGER Yes. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ So, you have plenty of time. You might not make today's flight, my friend. PASSENGER I won't? OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Oh, now it's serious? Remember the little sign that you had? You were making a commercial. Now, it's not funny anymore. Now it's not fun and games, right? PASSENGER No. It was never funny at all. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Oh, yes it was when you were throwing up your little signs. PASSENGER That was stupid. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Keep smiling. Go ahead and stand up against that wall right there, for me. I'mma talk to my boss. He just has a little leaf. He was at Coachella like everyone else. SECTION CHIEF WATSON Oh, that's it? OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Yeah. Now that's what I'm saying, it's a little leaf. SECTION CHIEF WATSON How often do you use marijuana? PASSENGER Back when I was younger more often. PASSENGER But not that much anymore. SECTION CHIEF WATSON Give me the number. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ Per week. SECTION CHIEF WATSON Yeah. PASSENGER One. Two. SECTION CHIEF WATSON Get his information. We're gonna cancel his ESTA. We encounter these ESTA travelers who only visited for the purpose of attending the music festival. If we go through their belongings and we find any controlled substances or they have a long-time history of drug use, then they actually become ineligible for the Visa Waiver Program. We already know that you're an habitual marijuana user. If you try to come in on an ESTA again per federal law we're gonna have to remove you from the country. We're gonna visa waiver refuse you. We're gonna let you go today because it’s just, it’s, it’s just like nothing. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ We allowed him to go home without interfering with his travel but we're gonna flag him for future travel into the U.S. SECTION CHIEF WATSON Good job, Ringo. Good job, Ringo. PASSENGER Thanks. OFFICER Put your bag up here. OFFICER We stopped the passenger coming off this Montego Bay flight. There were a lot of, uh, inconsistencies with, uh, his story and the reason and how he obtained the bag. So, we decided to bring him here for further examination. OFFICER The rivets have been changed. These are factory rivets here. OFFICER While checking the bag we noticed, uh, a few anomalies around the railing of the bag. OFFICER This metal that goes around the bag is kind of thick. Not normal. Not consistent with this type of bag. OFFICER Once we saw the bag and its anomalies, we suspected that there is a high likelihood of, uh, uh, narcotics. OFFICER Coke. OFFICER You can smell it. OFFICER You still wanna say that your mom bought you this bag, then? PASSENGER She didn't give it to me. OFFICER So, your mom didn't give you the bag? PASSENGER No. OFFICER Who gave you the bag? OFFICER You still wanna say that your mom bought you this bag, then? PASSENGER She didn't give it to me. OFFICER So, your mom didn't give you the bag? PASSENGER No. OFFICER Who gave you the bag? PASSENGER No comment. OFFICER I'm sorry, what was that? PASSENGER No comment. OFFICER No comment. OFFICER We have a white powder inside a plastic pouch. We're going to test it using this Gemini. OFFICER Make sure you keep your eye over there, okay? OFFICER All right. It's positive. Coke. OFFICER We're placing you under arrest for importation of narcotics in the form of cocaine. The bag was obviously loaded with cocaine. We contacted HSI and advised them of our findings. And we're just gonna turn over the evidence and the person to them for further investigation. OFC. MUBARAK Being in the United States you have to be able to support yourself. When I asked him earlier can he support himself he said "No." So, that raised a few alarms there. The next thing I'm gonna do is search his phone to see if he has any kind of messages or anything that shows that he may or may not be involved in some form of unlawful activity here in the United States. Oh. He's talking quite a bit about drug use. One of the conditions of traveling into the United Sates under the visa waiver program is that you cannot be a drug abuser. There are so many conversations of different kinds of drugs. Cocaine. Marijuana and possibly ketamine. I've seen enough. When I did an inspection of your electronics, I see you have a lot of conversations that talk about your use of drugs. Do you use marijuana? MAN Uh, no, I don't smoke. OFC. MUBARAK You, you have conversations in your phone that show you and your boyfriend using drugs while you're here in the United States. You even purchased it while you were here. I also found the messages that show that you use cocaine. PASSENGER Uh, no, I don't take. OFC. MUBARAK It's a good idea not to get me false or misleading information. When you're in Punta Cana, did you use cocaine? PASSENGER Uh, to friends around us, yes. OFC. MUBARAK Yeah. So you used a little bit because the friends around you were using it? PASSENGER Yeah. OFC. MUBARAK What about ketamine? PASSENGER In Paris. OFC. MUBARAK You used ketamine in Paris before? PASSENGER Yes. OFC. MUBARAK Yeah. Using ketamine in Paris is against the law, is that correct? Okay. So, it's very likely you're gonna go back to France. OFFICER BRITO We have a female passenger coming off from the Caribbean. Who saw with this one? POLICE OFFICER Cold stop. OFFICER BRITO One of the officers randomly selected her. She had a short trip she went for a few days but she had a huge bag with her and I want to see why the bag is so big. What she has in there. Check everything. We gotta feel every panel, the sides, bottom. Can I see the purse? That felt heavy, something else in here. Oh, wow, surprise! What is this? PASSENGER Oh, . OFFICER BRITO Something was inside behind the lining of the purse, a package. On each side of the bag. PASSENGER My God. OFFICER BRITO Yeah. OFFICER ROSARIO There's powder. OFFICER BRITO Get me the test kit. Remain seated there, we're gonna test what you're bringing here. Oy-yoy-yoy. Here you go, positive for cocaine. PASSENGER Oh my God, please. OFFICER BRITO Now we're gonna place the passenger under arrest for the importation of narcotics into the United States. Go ahead. OFFICER SHAEFER Face the wall. You're under arrest for importation of narcotics. Okay. PASSENGER Oh, God, mercy. PASSENGER This is not real. PASSENGER I can't even function. PASSENGER This can not be real life right now. OFFICER BRITO She's thinking it's a nightmare but this is reality. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO 1.167 (2.6 pounds). SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO What do we got? OFFICER BRITO Cocaine. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO Where was it? In the liner? OFFICER BRITO Yeah. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO Yours? SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO You understand you were transporting narcotics into the United States? So at this point, the more you give me, the better that this is going to go for you, so do whatever you can to help yourself. PASSENGER Oh, my God. PASSENGER My life is over. POLICE OFFICER See the rest of baggage. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO I know you're upset so we're gonna make you as comfortable as we possibly can. OFFICER BRITO I'm gonna release one hand, okay? PASSENGER Thank you. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO Most people, once they get caught, are upset. Some are genuine, some are just trying to make people feel bad. Here's some tissues. PASSENGER Thank you. OFFICER BRITO You have kids, right? PASSENGER I have one. PASSENGER He's three. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO I know it's hard but you gotta just try and relax. At this point, you just help yourself, okay? PASSENGER Okay. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO Mistakes happen, now you fixed them. Who gave you the purse? PASSENGER A friend. PASSENGER I've known him for years. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO How do you know him? PASSENGER Um. PASSENGER From my neighborhood. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO Is he your boyfriend or just a friend? PASSENGER Um. PASSENGER We used to date. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO He lives down there? PASSENGER Now, he does, yeah. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO What's his name? PASSENGER . SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO What's his last name? PASSENGER I honestly don't know. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO You don't know his last name? PASSENGER No. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO But you've known him for years? PASSENGER Right, but, um. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO Who were you supposed to give this to? PASSENGER I don't even know. SUPERVISORY OFFICER RAIO All right, listen. Listen. An agent's going to come here, all right? They're gonna ask you the same questions. You gotta try real hard to remember his last name. It's up to you whether you want to cooperate or not, okay? We've contacted HSI, they'll do some further questioning on her. And we'll see if we can get some other information for anyone that might be connected. OFC. MUBARAK Are you aware that under United States federal law it is illegal to use, sell, or be in possession of marijuana, cocaine, or ketamine? PASSENGER Oh, yeah, of course. OFC. MUBARAK Some of the things that I was seeing in Thomas's phone was messages showing that he used several different forms of drugs. The visa waiver program is a very sensitive program. If there any violations, then it automatically makes the ESTA null and void. Due to your unlawful drug use, you're gonna be processed for a visa waiver refusal. We'll make flight arrangements for you so that we can get you out on the next flight that we have available. PASSENGER Can just I, can I just never smoke again? OFC. MUBARAK Like I said, you're inadmissible to the United Sates. Any airline that brings an alien that's inadmissible to the United States is required to take that alien back to wherever they brought them from. So, we're gonna get him booked on the next flight and he is going to have to depart the country. All right, go ahead and come with me. A vast majority of people aren't bad people. This wasn't, uh, a judgment of his character. The thing is we have a job to do and we'll do that job. We are law enforcement officers and we will enforce the law to the best of our ability. OFFICER Ready? OFC. MUBARAK Someone like Thomas can come to the United States, use drugs, have a clouded judgment, and could harm someone that's here. We remove elements like that from causing any harm to the citizens to the United States. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK You brought in drugs to the United States that are worth a very good amount of money. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Willingly or unwillingly or no knowledge or knowledge, it doesn't change anything. Right now, we're gonna talk, okay? The main focus right now is to see if she's telling us as much as she does know because she obviously knows the main guy. SPECIAL AGENT STEPHEN I know your birthday was yesterday. You went down for a birthday trip or what? PASSENGER Yeah. SPECIAL AGENT STEPHEN What did you do when you were down there? PASSENGER You know, I went out to eat, we went to some parties, went to the beach. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Did you take any pictures on your birthday trip? PASSENGER Down there? No. SPECIAL AGENT STEPHEN Did you have a hotel or anything to stay when you went down there? PASSENGER No. I stayed with him, at his. SPECIAL AGENT STEPHEN Okay. PASSENGER Where he lives. SPECIAL AGENT STEPHEN Who paid for your ticket? PASSENGER He did. SPECIAL AGENT STEPHEN Did you find that weird? PASSENGER Um, I felt that he was trying court me again. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK So, you went down there with the purpose of celebrating your birthday with him? PASSENGER Yes. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK And you don't remember his last name? PASSENGER No. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK You dated this guy for a good period of time. That's like a first date thing, "Hey, what's your name?" "This is my name." PASSENGER Yes, that is true. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK That's hard for us to believe. Did he tell you what was in the purse or what it was for? PASSENGER No, he never told me. PASSENGER All he told me was that it was for his friend's mom. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK And you don't remember what friend's mom? PASSENGER He did not. He never told me. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Like the friend's name or anything? PASSENGER He never told me. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Well, how were you supposed to give her this purse? PASSENGER I don't, I don't know- SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Have you ever met her? PASSENGER No. I was assuming that he was going to tell me by the time I got back. PASSENGER I mean, he would have texted me. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK So everything was based off of you assuming that he was gonna give you further instructions? You don't even know his last name. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Doesn't make sense to me. Let me explain, kind of, how this, this is going, right. Like, you're in a very bad situation. You have a good job and you have a kid. But he took advantage of you. Whether he played on your love or he played on your vulnerabilities, he basically set you up, because you took all the risk. And right now, you're doing a lot of protecting of him because you don't wanna get him in trouble. But remember who ultimately got you in trouble. You have to start being honest with us. Is there anything you wanna tell us that you want to change or, like, "Hey, I remember his last name now." Or anything like that? PASSENGER I believe he told me maybe, in the beginning but, like, I can't say it. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK So what did he tell you? PASSENGER I think it was . SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK All right. So, was he gonna pay you for this trip? PASSENGER No. He never talked about money. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK He never talked about anything? Did he tell you what was in the purse or what it was for? PASSENGER No, never told me. PASSENGER All he told me is that it was for his friend's mom. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK You have to have some knowledge because you have to know what risk is involved. PASSENGER I mean, I don't. I never even touched the bag. I saw it. Did I question it? No. Should I have? I, I guess, I don't know. I don't. PASSENGER I assumed, because he knows. PASSENGER That I have a little boy. PASSENGER I would never think he would. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Put you in that situation? PASSENGER And that's stupid of me, I know. PASSENGER I understand that. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Do you have any pictures of him? PASSENGER In my phone. PASSENGER Go to text messages. That, yeah, that's him. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Okay. PASSENGER Trust me, I'm not holding anything back. We can text him right now and tell me what to tell him so you can hear whatever you need to see. I don't even care. Like, I have nothing to do with this, like. PASSENGER I wouldn't jeopardize. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK I understand. PASSENGER Not seeing my son. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Just take a deep breath, take a deep breath, okay? Just. PASSENGER For no freaking guy, like. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Typical passengers like this, they're not told a lot. She is cooperating with us and so we're gonna go forward from there. All right. We're gonna call the prosecutors and we're gonna finish our paperwork. Do you have any questions real quick? PASSENGER No. SPECIAL AGENT PATRICK Okay. Come follow us. As of now, we've got most that we can get out of her. We'll still process her and we're gonna have a discussion and make a final decision whether we prosecute, but there's different things she told us and other leads we can follow down to further the case. AGENT The subject has been placed under arrest for the importation of cocaine into the United States. That's only one of the packages. We don't know what the total weight or how many other packages are in the, the side rail. We're gonna go ahead and extract all the other packages off the side rail here, just to get a total weight of the narcotic. OFFICER Four? OFFICER That is four. Looks like we got everything. Uh, we were able to retrieve eight packages of the cocaine. Here on the streets of Miami a pound (453 grams) will be, probably about $20,000 in U.S. Well, this was destined to Bermuda. OFFICER So, the price is gonna be a lot more expensive over there for the pound (453 grams). OFFICER We're now gonna hand him and the bag over to HSI for further prosecution. SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT BRIAN Our agents contacted the United States Attorney's office and this case has been accepted for federal prosecution, and the subject will be charged with importation of controlled substance and possession with the intent to distribute.