A Peruvian man pleaded guilty on Thursday to importing cocaine into the United States while working at Dulles International Airport (IAD).
According to court documents, 43-year-old José Luis Castillo Rojas traveled into Dulles from Panama’s Tocumen International Airport carrying a cargo bag and backpack early on April 24.
While searching his cargo bag, authorities discovered numerous sachets of cocaine weighing 1.95 kilograms, as well as more than $54,000 in counterfeit US money.
The cocaine was disguised in baked products and other food items.
At the time, he worked for an airport services company at IAD and held a Special Access Seal issued by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This gave him unrestricted access to customs security sections, including foreign planes and sensitive baggage compartments.
Authorities claimed they discovered texts on Castillo Rojas’ phone in which he discussed getting the cargo bag from someone in Peru and paying to transport the package to someone in the United States.
He faces up to 40 years in jail and is set to be sentenced on November 6.
