A suitcase logged into the lost and found at Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner contained almost 10 pounds of marijuana, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Narcotics investigators arrested three people after a woman showed up and tried to claim the luggage.
Sheriff’s Office detectives went to the airport, located at 900 Airline Drive, Kenner, Thursday (June 29) after receiving a report of an abandoned suitcase that contained drugs. Inside, authorities found 9.92 pounds of marijuana, an arrest report said.
One day later, Safiya Zina, 38, of Antioch, Calif., showed up at the airport and tried to claim the suitcase, the arrest report said. Investigators detained Zina and questioned her about the bag.
She told them she was to be paid $1,000 to bring the bag to New Orleans from California and turn it over in exchange for money that she would take back to California, the report said.
Investigators allowed the exchange to occur and took into custody the two people who had arranged to meet Zina: Michael Lewis, 27, of New Orleans, and Sarah Abd-Elaziz, 29, of Oakland, Calif., the report said. The pair had $3,600 in their possession, according to authorities.
Zina was arrested Friday and booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana. Authorities searched her Kenner hotel room and found a small amount of marijuana, the arrest report said.
Bond for Zina was set at $20,500. But she was released Sunday without bond because of crowding at the jail.
Lewis was booked with conspiracy to possess or distribute drugs. He was released Saturday on a $20,000 bond.
Abd-Elaziz was booked with conspiracy to possess or distribute drugs and drug possess. She is accused of possessing drugs for which she had no prescription, the report said. She was released Saturday on a $25,000 bond.
credit:nola.com