A California woman has been arraigned in federal court on charges of drug trafficking and conspiracy after allegedly arriving on a commercial flight to St. Thomas with two suitcases containing 20 kilograms of marijuana, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jaclyn Raquel Quiroz was arraigned June 9 in the District Court of the Virgin Islands following a May 21 indictment by a federal grand jury. The indictment charges Quiroz with one count of conspiracy to commit a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court records, Quiroz arrived at Cyril E. King Airport on March 26 aboard a United Airlines flight. Customs and Border Protection officers scanned the checked baggage from the flight and identified two suitcases bearing her name that showed “anomalies” during x-ray screening. The officers noted dense contents consistent with marijuana.
The suitcases were placed on the baggage carousel, where CBP officers observed Quiroz retrieve both. Officers then stopped her and confirmed her identity with a California driver’s license.
Quiroz was escorted to a secondary inspection area, where officers opened the luggage and discovered several black vacuum-sealed packages concealed beneath towels. The contents tested positive for approximately 20 kilograms of marijuana.
