A 34-year-old California woman, Diane Bahlawan, faces multiple charges after allegedly trying to smuggle 151 pounds of cannabis onto an international flight. She was apprehended on May 6 at San Francisco International Airport while attempting to board a United Airlines flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Airport security officials noticed that Bahlawan’s four roller bags were unusually heavy, prompting further inspection.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered 131 vacuum-sealed bags containing cannabis within Bahlawan’s luggage. In addition to the marijuana, officials seized her cellphone, boarding pass, and nearly $1,000 in cash.
Bahlawan has been charged with burglary and unlawful transport of marijuana. After posting bail, she was released from custody, with her initial court appearance scheduled for June 2. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe noted that handling a case involving this volume of cannabis is uncommon for his office, as they typically deal with smaller cases while larger ones are managed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Wagstaffe mentioned, ‘It is unusual for my office to get a marijuana transportation case through the airport that involves this much marijuana.’ He expressed the district attorney’s office’s readiness to prosecute any cases that federal authorities do not take.
This incident is part of a troubling trend at San Francisco International Airport. In February, a 25-year-old Australian woman was arrested at the same airport for carrying 44 pounds of methamphetamine. Additionally, in April, Customs and Border Protection officers seized approximately 150,000 illegal cigarettes from a couple returning from Ensenada, Mexico, at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal.
As the legal landscape surrounding cannabis continues to evolve, incidents like Bahlawan’s highlight ongoing challenges in regulating and enforcing laws related to the transport of controlled substances.
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