Authorities say a heroin smuggler was caught at Washington Dulles International Airport with more than three pounds of the drug in his abdomen, the third time a Nigerian man has been arrested at the airport on heroin-trafficking charges in the past two-and-a-half months.
Rasheed Martins, 54, was arrested after he arrived at Dulles from Paris last Wednesday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said there were “inconsistencies” in his statements and he was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation.
Charging documents filed in federal court in Alexandria say an x-ray revealed pellets in his stomach. He ingested a total of 97 thumb-sized pellets that weighed 1431.6 grams — or 3 pounds, 2 ounces — according to CBP. The pellets field-tested positive for heroin, court records say, and CBP estimated the value of the drugs as about $100,000.
Martins’ case is the third time a suspected heroin smuggler has been caught at Dulles in recent months. In a one-week span in late March, two others were arrested.
CBP spokesman Steve Sapp said it’s not clear whether any of the cases are related beyond all three suspects hailing from Nigeria.
Yomade Aborishade pleaded guilty earlier this month to trying to import the drug. He had ingested nearly four pounds of heroin, worth about $129,000, according to court documents. In May, Ebodor F. Okenwa pleaded guilty in a similar case. Court records say he was arrested at the airport with more than three pounds of heroin in his abdomen.
Martins’ attorney declined to comment on the case.
