Crime & Safety
Smuggling Cocaine Conviction For VA Airport Worker
Customs officers recovered 1.95 kilograms of cocaine in an airport services employee's baggage at Dulles Airport in April, authorities say.
DULLES, VA — A Peruvian citizen who worked for an airport services company at Washington Dulles International Airport pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to importing cocaine into the U.S., according to authorities.
José Luis Castillo Rojas, 43, held a Special Access Seal that allowed him unescorted access to the customs security areas at Dulles Airport, including access to international flights and secure baggage areas, according to court records.
On April 24, Castillo Rojas arrived at the airport on COPA Airlines Flight 404 from Tocumen International Airport in Panamá City, Panamá, court records say. During an authorized inspection of Castillo Rojas’ cargo bag, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers found multiple packages of cocaine, totaling 1.95 kilograms and more than $54,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency.
Find out what's happening in Restonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Also See ...
Find out what's happening in Restonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Searching Castillo Rojas’ cellphone, customs officers also found a text conversation in which he discussed retrieving the cargo bag from Peru, as well as payment for delivering the bag to someone in the U.S., court records say.
Sentencing for Castillo Royas is scheduled for Nov. 6, when he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, according to court records.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
