Drug dealers from around the world have tried to use a variety of ways to smuggle drugs through the international airports in Baltimore and Washington, including through juice boxes, soup and statues of the Virgin Mary.
Add buttons to the list.
Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport intercepted a package from the Philippines that contained eight large dresses, according to federal charging documents.
The dresses were decorated with large buttons. Inside the buttons investigators found a tan, powdery substance wrapped in plastic that contained what turned out to be tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of heroin, authorities said.
The agents turned the package to Department of Homeland Security officials to further investigate and to conduct a sting at the home of the intended recipient.
The investigators removed nearly a pound and a half from the buttons and left less than a quarter-ounce in a separate container to be used for the controlled delivery. The street value of the seized heroin is roughly $50,000, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On Monday, an undercover agent disguised as a DHL delivery man knocked on the door of the Baltimore residence listed as the recipient, documents said. The person listed on the address was not at the home, and authorities said James Geter, 50, signed for the package. Federal agents were able to monitor the package from outside the building. Two hours later, Geter left the home and drove away. The package remained inside the home.
After nearly two more hours, law enforcement officials became concerned because they were not able to fully monitor the package, so they knocked on the door. A man identified as Michael Anderson, 54, answered and let the police enter.
Police found the package upstairs and it appeared unopened.
Under questioning, both men told investigators they were holding the package for a man they said was a known Baltimore drug dealer who went by the name of “Black,” and who ran a ” ‘drug shop’ around the corner,” according to charging documents. Anderson said Black would pay him for receiving the package.
Anderson and Geter were charged with conspiracy to import a controlled substance.
