California Woman Arrested for Attempting to Smuggle Cannabis

A 34-year-old woman from California, named Diane Balawan, is facing accusations of trying to smuggle a staggering 151 pounds of cannabis onto international flights, officials revealed this week.

Balawan was initially detained at San Francisco International Airport on May 6, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Security personnel flagged her roller bags because they seemed unusually heavy. Upon inspection, they uncovered 131 vacuum-sealed bags filled with cannabis.

Along with the cannabis, authorities seized Balawan’s mobile phones, boarding passes, and nearly $1,000 in cash—$960 to be exact.

She has been charged with robbery of marijuana and illegal transportation but managed to post bail and is now out of jail. Her first court appearance is set for June 2.

San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaff commented that it’s quite rare for his office to handle cases involving such large quantities of marijuana at the airport. He noted, “They tend to take big things, and we get small things.” So, this amount is significant for them to manage, but they are prepared to tackle anything federal authorities pass on.

Further details regarding Balawan’s case are expected to be disclosed after her court appearance, according to the Chronicle.

This incident is not isolated. Recent months have seen several similar cases emerging from California and San Francisco International Airport. In a separate event in February, a 25-year-old Australian was arrested at a travel hub with 44 pounds of methamphetamine. Then, in April, Customs and Border Protection officers confiscated about 150,000 cigarettes from a couple arriving after a cruise from Ensenada, Mexico.