San Francisco Authorities Charge Californian with Two Felonies

A woman from Southern California has been charged with two felonies after she allegedly attempted to smuggle more than 150 pounds of cannabis onto an international flight at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Prosecutors in San Mateo County allege that 34-year-old Diane Bahlawan, of Glendale, was caught with the cannabis while preparing to board a United Airlines flight to Frankfurt, Germany, at around 5:15 am on May 6.

According to the San Francisco Police Department's Airport Division, airport personnel grew suspicious when Bahlawan's roller bags appeared unusually heavy. A US Customs agent then stepped in to check the luggage, finding 130 vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis. These had a total weight of 151.07 pounds.

Obviously, Bahlawan was stopped from boarding and arrested on felony charges of transportation of marijuana and commercial burglary. Her phone and nearly $1,000 in cash were confiscated. She posted bail the same day and is scheduled for arraignment on June 2.

The case is being handled by San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Though federal agencies like the TSA and FBI also have jurisdiction over airport drug cases, the US Attorney’s Office declined to pursue this one…possibly because 150 pounds of pot just isn’t what it used to be.

"It is unusual for my office to get a marijuana transportation case through the airport that involves [this] much marijuana,” he said.

This bust follows another recent case at SFO involving an Australian woman allegedly caught with 44 pounds of methamphetamine in her luggage. That case also ended up in state hands after the feds passed. Unlike Bahlawan, the other defendant remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty.

FMI: www.flysfo.com