Traveler’s Tea Bags Brew Dope;
Maryland Man Arrested on NYC Warrant Wanted for DWI

STERLING, Va. – Some people enjoy consuming tea for its antioxidant health benefits while others enjoy tea for the caffeine rush, but for one international traveler, his tea was more the mind altering kind. Unfortunately for him, it couldn’t alter an outstanding New York City arrest charge that abruptly ended his return trip home late Wednesday night.

Jeffrey Cannon, 20, of Huntington, Md., was arrested by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police after Customs and Border Protection officers confirmed Cannon’s identity and his New York City arrest warrant on a DUI charge.

“CBP employees take tremendous pride in our critical role of protecting the nation at our ports of entry,” said Christopher Hess, CBP Port Director for the Port of Washington. “It is important for our national security that CBP has advanced information for persons arriving at US air ports of entry. Fugitives from justice should be warned.”

Cannon arrived to Dulles International Airport at about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday aboard an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin, Ireland. While confirming Cannon’s identify, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered an elaborate smoking pipe with dark residue, an opened bottle of absinthe and a large amount of tea bags. Four tea bags were noticeably larger than the others. Two tea bags contained a green leafy substance; the two others contained a dark brown substance. A CBP narcotics canine alerted to the tea bags and field tests proved positive for marijuana and hashish.

CBP officers seized 3.7 grams of hashish, 2.3 grams of marijuana, the smoking pipe and the absinthe and released Cannon to MWAA officers at about 9:30 p.m.

“Regardless of the quantity, we have zero tolerance when it comes to illicit narcotics,” said Christopher Hess, CBP Port Director for the Port of Washington. “Travelers need to know that if something is illegal in the United States then they should think twice about attempting to bring it here. Our officers and agriculture specialists are trained and highly skilled at detecting prohibited items.”

International travelers should be aware of the rules for bringing items into the country. CBP consolidates travel information on its Travel website at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/.