Las Vegas Woman Arrested Smuggling 59 Pounds Marijuana to Germany

Aleshia Anne Pinheiro, a 42-year-old woman from Las Vegas, was arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport for attempting to smuggle 59 pounds of marijuana valued at approximately $240,000 in the U.S. to Frankfurt, Germany. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered 50 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana in two suitcases while inspecting luggage for a Germany-bound flight. Despite marijuana’s legalization in some U.S. states, transporting it across state lines or exporting it remains illegal under federal law. Authorities noted a rising trend in transnational criminal organizations using passenger baggage and express air delivery to smuggle marijuana to Europe, where it can fetch two to three times higher prices. Pinheiro faces felony charges for transporting a controlled substance into Virginia and possession with intent to distribute. CBP officials emphasized the severe consequences of attempting to traffic bulk marijuana internationally and pledged to continue efforts to intercept such shipments.