Three California residents are facing numerous charges after they allegedly tried to smuggle 150 pounds of marijuana through Logan International Airport in several suitcases.
Massachusetts State Police said they received information from law enforcement officials in California on Saturday morning about two people flying into Logan with a large quantity of marijuana in their suitcases.
The suspects, arriving on an American Airlines flight out of Sacramento, were identified as Jerry McNair, 48, and Ladonna Hardman, 57, both of California.
State police and two federal Homeland Security agents set up surveillance at a gate in Terminal B ahead of the flight's 6 p.m. arrival. Other troopers set up surveillance at the secure side baggage area awaiting the arrival of the flight's luggage.
McNair and Hardman were identified as they exited the flight and followed to the baggage surveillance area, where they met with an unidentified woman.
Once the suspects retrieved their luggage, investigators approached and identified themselves. They also saw the third person retrieve their luggage, which was similar to the luggage retrieved by McNair and Hardman.
Police approached the three suspects, but McNair and Hardman refused to consent to a search of their luggage. They were both placed under arrest for possession of marijuna with intent to distribute and were taken with their luggage to the state police barracks at Logan. The third person agreed to come back to the barracks to be interviewed further.
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The third traveler was later identified as Saudia Watson, 37, also of California. She consented to a search of her two pieces of luggage. Inside, state police found 51 clear plastic bags containing more than 50 pounds of marijuana. Watson was arrested for marijuana trafficking.
After obtaining warrants, state police searched McNair and Hardman's luggage, finding 50 additional plastic bags containing more than 50 pounds of marijuana in McNair's luggage and approximately the same amount of marijuana in Hardman's.
As a result of these discoveries, McNair and Hardman were also charged with marijuana trafficking. All three suspects were additionally charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws.
They were held at the state police barracks and are expected to be arraigned Monday in East Boston District Court.
