CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NBC Charlotte Defenders are learning about a major cocaine bust at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Two Jamaican citizens are now in custody, accused of trying to smuggle $90,000 worth of drugs. Both of them arrived on separate flights this week from Montego Bay.
The latest drug busts happened after authorities inspected the suspects’ luggage; the cases were just days apart.
After more than six pounds of cocaine was seized, two Jamaican citizens are now feeling the weight of U.S. laws. 37-year-old Christopher Samuels and 25-year-old Keshon Hawthorne charged with trafficking cocaine.
Authorities said Hawthorne arrived on a flight to Charlotte Douglas on Sunday. Then two days later, Samuels landed in the Queen City. Investigators said both men were busted for cocaine after U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspected their luggage.
The Defenders are taking a closer look into other cases of contraband at Charlotte Douglas. Earlier this year, federal prosecutors announced another significant drug bust.
“The defendants facilitated the transport of over 66 kilograms of what they believed to be methamphetamine,” the U.S. Attorney previously said.
The case took undercover officers two years to crack. It also involved transporting drugs to several major cities, including Charlotte.
“They were simply transporting it from DFW to those locations; we had law enforcement personnel who were picking it up at those locations,” said the U.S. Attorney.
NBC Charlotte asked Customs and Border Protection if the cases involving the two Jamaican citizens are related, but officials only said it remains an ongoing investigation.
For now, Samuels and Hawthorne remain in the Mecklenburg County jail. Officials said their cases will not be tried in federal court.
