A 25-year-old woman from Australia, while visiting Southern California, is reportedly facing a lengthy prison sentence after being accused of attempting to smuggle 44 pounds of methamphetamine back to her home country.
Yasmin Vantongeren is said to have traveled to Los Angeles at the request of someone she had known since 2021, who allegedly promised her a “paid vacation” in exchange for transporting a suitcase filled with drugs back to Brisbane on her return journey, according to SFGATE.
The publication reported that she was presented with an offer ranging from $6,000 to $10,000 for transporting the meth back to Australia, while another source claims she was supposedly guaranteed $15,000.
During her time in L.A., she spent roughly a week in a Koreatown Airbnb, where she unexpectedly encountered someone and exchanged her suitcase for another.
On February 14, the 25-year-old arrived at San Francisco International Airport, but her journey home took an unexpected turn.
As she made her way to her flight, Vantongeren was selected for a random screening by agents from the Transportation Security Administration. Agents uncovered 20 sealed bags of methamphetamine along with 40 vacuum-sealed bags intended for packaging. Her luggage was said to include clothing stained with coffee, a tactic sometimes employed by smugglers to disguise the scent of narcotics.
Authorities revealed that she first claimed ignorance about the bag’s contents but later confessed to having packed them herself. They also discovered Western Union receipts bearing her name.
According to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, as reported by SFGATE, the screening at TSA was indeed random; however, officials had been alerted to a potential drug courier attempting to pass through the airport.
“She’s had a string of bad luck.” Not all luggage undergoes screening. “It’s unpredictable,” Wagstaffe remarked. “This does not mark a triumph for her.”
Authorities are currently examining the possibility that the 25-year-old was involved in a more extensive drug trafficking operation, highlighting the significant financial investment required to acquire 44 pounds of meth.
The San Mateo County DA informed SFGATE that anything she has mentioned regarding her recruiter is being viewed with skepticism.
Authorities have yet to determine the identities of her recruiter or the individual who allegedly provided her with the luggage filled with drugs. In that case, their identities remain undisclosed.
Vantongeren, maintaining a plea of not guilty, faces charges including possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, transportation of a controlled substance, and second-degree burglary.
She remains in custody with no option for bail and is set to appear in court on February 20.
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