THOMAS: Thomas woman has been arrested in connection with what federal prosecutors say was a conspiracy to smuggle more than 17 pounds of cocaine though security at King Airport to the continental United States.
Roniqua Hart and Taheeda George — two baggage and catering employees at the airport — were arrested and accused of using their security clearance “to facilitate the smuggling of five kilograms of cocaine beyond TSA check point;” cocaine that “was ultimately smuggled on board a commercial aircraft destined to the continental United States by drug couriers, and ultimately distributed in various states.”
Regarding Hart and George, prosecutors said in filings that “on July 1, 2016, the defendants, using the same modus operandi, facilitated the attempted smuggling of three kilograms of cocaine,” but that was seized by Customs and Border Patrol agents.
The motion also argues those two defendants “facilitated the transport of cocaine proceeds from the continental United States to the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
The federal complaint said the two women are charged with the manufacture, distribution or possession of a controlled substance and with conspiracy.
Blyden was arrested on the same criminal docket, titled “USA v. Sealed Defendant-01 et al,” but her filings didn’t specifically spell out the charges; however, they did include a notation that the complaint stems from U.S. Code section 21, subsection 846, which is conspiracy to distribute or attempt to distribute controlled substances, and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
While the case has been unsealed as to George and Hart, such hadn’t occurred regarding Blyden as of press time today. Like George and Hart, she was released on $25,000 unsecured bond, and she has surrendered her passport.
The smuggling case against the three women may involve additional unidentified defendants, as their defendant numbers in federal paperwork identify them as defendants six, seven and eight, suggesting that warrants are outstanding for unknown defendants one through six.
