UK student arrested at LAX for smuggling meth-laden T-shirts

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By Sky Industry News

Nov 14, 2024

A 20-year-old student from the United Kingdom, Myah Saakwa-Mante, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after customs agents discovered methamphetamine-soaked T-shirts in her luggage. The incident occurred earlier this month as she was en route to Brisbane, Australia, following a two-day stay in Los Angeles.

Court documents revealed that Saakwa-Mante's suitcase was flagged for further inspection by TSA security officers on November 2. An X-ray scan detected anomalies in the bag's contents. Inside the suitcase were jeans, shoes, a Louis Vuitton bag, and a concerning discovery: a white powder residue visible on officers' gloves. Upon closer examination, agents found 13 wet T-shirts "caked with a white, powdery substance," according to an affidavit cited by The LA Times.

The T-shirts appeared to be ordinary Target-brand garments but had been soaked with methamphetamine in liquid form. Fox News reported that the shirts weighed nearly 30 pounds and likely contained several kilograms of the drug. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Omar Yasin explained that the methamphetamine was "originally in a powder form and then washed using a solvent before being melded into the fabric," according to an affidavit cited by CBS News.

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Saakwa-Mante reportedly admitted to purchasing the T-shirts at a Target store using Apple Pay and provided receipts to confirm the transaction. However, she denied knowledge of how they became soaked with methamphetamine. She claimed she was traveling to meet her boyfriend for the first time. Authorities are investigating whether she acted as an unwitting mule or knowingly participated in smuggling.

VICE reported that Saakwa-Mante has been charged with illegal possession of methamphetamine intending to distribute it. Her attorney is seeking her release before trial; however, prosecutors argue she poses a "serious risk" of fleeing if released.

ABC7 Eyewitness News noted that Los Angeles is considered a primary hub for drug activity in the United States. US Attorney Martin Estrada stated that Mexican cartels heavily rely on this region to smuggle drugs into the country for distribution both domestically and internationally.