LOS ANGELES, CA — A flight attendant who attempted to smuggle more than 60 pounds of cocaine through the Los Angeles International Airport was taken into custody Wednesday, according to officials.
The Drug Enforcement Agency said 31-year-old Marsha Reynolds, of New York, surrendered to agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City after she attempted to smuggle cocaine through LAX on Friday.
Reynolds, a JetBlue flight attendant, was pulled aside by Transportation Security Administration officers for a random screening in Terminal 4.
That’s when airport police said she abandoned her luggage and ran away from security.
Officials said when officers searched the luggage, they found 68.49 pounds of cocaine inside 11 individually wrapped packages.
Reynolds, who was charged with a federal narcotics trafficking offense, was scheduled to make a court appearance in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on Thursday.
According to officials, if convicted, Reynolds could face 10 years to life in federal prison.
Crew members are not normally subjected to searches, according to LAX police.
The Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association said the incident is an example of why LAX needs to screen all passengers and airport employees.