LOS ANGELES – Kennsha Mason, 28, of Detroit, is facing federal charges after being caught red-handed attempting to smuggle at least a kilogram of cocaine through Los Angeles International Airport early this morning. The bust underscores a growing trend of criminal organizations exploiting air travel for nationwide drug distribution.
Mason was apprehended by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents as she boarded a Spirit Airlines flight. A criminal complaint details how the narcotics were discovered during a routine baggage scan. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel flagged a suspicious bag while screening luggage for a flight to Baltimore – a layover en route to Mason’s final destination of Detroit. Inside, they found three vacuum-sealed packages wrapped in carbon paper.
Los Angeles Airport Police swiftly located Mason on the aircraft and escorted her off. During questioning, Mason allegedly confessed to transporting drugs from Los Angeles to Detroit on four or five previous occasions, earning $3,500 per trip. She reportedly revealed working for a Detroit-based individual who provided her airline tickets and directed her to a Pasadena residence to collect the contraband.
“Our nation’s air travel system is designed to carry people to see loved ones and conduct business – not as a means to smuggle narcotics or other contraband,” stated United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “We actively work to interdict drug shipments as part of our mission to protect our critical infrastructure. Those who threaten that infrastructure will be subject to vigorous prosecution.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Steve Comer added, “The trend of criminal organizations utilizing the Los Angeles International Airport to distribute narcotics nationwide is on the rise. Every time an illegal substance is smuggled onto a commercial airliner, it presents an unacceptable compromise to passenger safety.”
Mason is currently charged with possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. While the initial charge relates to one of the three recovered packages, authorities are analyzing the remaining two to confirm they also contain cocaine. The total weight of the three packages is approximately four kilograms – over eight pounds – a significant haul for a single courier.
The investigation is being led by the DEA Los Angeles International Airport Narcotics Task Force, a multi-agency operation comprised of the FBI, Los Angeles Airport Police, LAPD, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Customs and Border Protection, and TSA. Assistant United States Attorney Reema M. El-Amamy is prosecuting the case. It’s important to remember that a criminal complaint contains allegations, and Mason is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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