These Aren't My Pants

Or my suitcase?

• A 25-year-old Salem, Oregon, man is facing cannabis trafficking charges after federal agents allegedly found nearly 32 pounds of raw cannabis inside a suitcase he was carrying onto a London-bound flight at O’Hare International Airport. And the accused man says it’s all a big misunderstanding stemming from a job he found on Instagram.

  According to a detention filing, Samuel Stahl’s legal adventures began last Friday evening, August 14, when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent inspecting an outbound American Airlines flight zeroed in on a black SWISSGEAR suitcase. The bag allegedly belonged to Stahl, who was promptly stopped by agents as he stepped onto the jet bridge. They seized his iPhone and walkie-talkie and escorted him to a secure area for a border search, officials said.

And then it got humorous

• Inside the suitcase, agents allegedly discovered 29 packets of vacuum-sealed raw cannabis. Stahl, however, had an explanation ready. He told agents he was merely “the courier” and that he had no idea what was inside the bag because he had signed a non-disclosure agreement. When agents asked whether he took ownership of the bag given that it was in his possession, Stahl allegedly replied that he had been instructed to state that he did not understand. Presented with a luggage tag bearing his own name, Stahl allegedly claimed he could not read.

  About an hour into his encounter with Uncle Sam, Stahl’s story expanded when he allegedly confided that earlier this summer he had answered a job listing on Instagram advertising work as an international luggage courier. A week later, he allegedly claimed, he was offered $1,000 cash plus all expenses paid to deliver a suitcase to Thailand. Stahl told agents that he signed a non-disclosure agreement promising never to look inside the bag, though he later admitted to violating that agreement and peeking in to find files and clothing, the detention filing said. Once in Thailand, an unknown person collected the suitcase and took him to his hotel.

This guy is lucky he wasn't headed to Singapore. Nice pinch though.