British Student Caught at LAX Allegedly Smuggling Meth-Soaked T-Shirts to Australia

A British university student was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 2 after allegedly attempting to smuggle methamphetamine concealed in soaked T-shirts. Myah Saakwa-Mante, 20, is facing charges of drug possession with intent to distribute, among other allegations, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.

Customs officials discovered the contraband in Saakwa-Mante’s luggage after she checked in for her international flight to Brisbane, Australia. The complaint states that officers found approximately 13 white T-shirts soaked with a substance testing positive for methamphetamine, caked under the suitcase’s internal lining. Some of the methamphetamine had dried into a powdery form, weighing a total of around 13 kilograms, or nearly 30 pounds, with the T-shirts included.

Saakwa-Mante was intercepted at the gate and questioned about her luggage. She confirmed the suitcase was hers and admitted she had purchased the white T-shirts from a Target store using Apple Pay. She also stated that she had receipts for the items, as noted in the criminal complaint. Despite the apparent evidence, Saakwa-Mante claimed she had no knowledge of the methamphetamine when asked about the white powder found on the T-shirts.

According to the criminal complaint, Saakwa-Mante told officials she was a student living and studying in the UK and had been visiting the United States for two days. She said she was en route to Australia to meet her boyfriend, whom she had never met in person.

After the initial questioning, officers escorted Saakwa-Mante to a bag screening area for further inspection and seized her two iPhones. She was subsequently taken into custody, facing serious charges related to the smuggling attempt.

The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to monitor international drug trafficking networks that exploit travelers and unsuspecting items.