A Northridge, California, man has been indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after allegedly attempting to smuggle over 71 pounds of the drug into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by hiding it in clothing, including a cow pajama onesie.
According to the Department of Justice, 31-year-old Raj Matharu checked two suitcases into LAX on November 6, bound for a flight to Sydney, Australia. When screening officers detected irregularities in the suitcases during an X-ray check, they pulled them in for further inspection.
Upon opening the suitcases, officers found over a dozen pieces of white and light-colored clothing covered in a white residue, which tested positive for methamphetamine. In total, 71.5 pounds of clothing with the drug caked into them was found, as well as an additional kilogram of methamphetamine residue extracted from the suitcases.
Matharu was arrested before boarding his flight and was later placed under arrest. He has been charged with a single count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and if convicted, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and up to life behind bars. He is currently free on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on December 2 in the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.