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by Jeff Kirsch
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A South Carolina woman arrested recently at Portland International Airport denied knowing anything about several pounds of marijuana found in her luggage, Port of Portland police reported.
According to court documents, on the night of May 7, Delta Air Lines employees at PDX noticed a distinct odor of marijuana coming from a passenger’s checked luggage bound for North Carolina.
Employees called police, who then obtained the passenger’s consent to search the bags. Inside, they found several bags that were superglued shut and contained a total of 57 pounds of marijuana.
The passenger, later identified as Japreshia Hillie, 25, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, denied knowing anything about the drugs.
READ MORE | Flight 420: Portland man attempted to take 40 lbs. of marijuana to Chicago to 'make money'
She said someone had contacted her through Snapchat and paid her to transport the bags but claimed she did not know what was inside.
She also said arrangements had been made for an Uber to pick her up with the suitcases already inside and take her to the airport.
According to court documents, Hillie was supposed to notify someone when she arrived at her destination but did not say how much she was paid.
Hillie was arraigned Monday on a charge of illegal import or export of marijuana items.
According to jail records, she has a previous misdemeanor conviction in 2023 in South Carolina for possessing less than a gram of meth or cocaine base.
She is out of custody and is due back in court on June 1.
2026 Sinclair, Inc.