Two cruise passengers allegedly brought more than 100 bags of marijuana on board
Two Norwegian Cruise Line passengers allegedly brought more than 100 bags of marijuana on the line’s Norwegian Joy ship.
Michael Quesenberry and Savannah Rose Minami brought roughly 71.9 kilograms combined on a sailing that was set to depart from Miami for Southampton, England on Jan. 11, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida.
Law enforcement discovered 56 vacuum-sealed bags of “a green, leafy substance” in Quesenberry’s luggage after a drug-sniffing dog indicated its presence. The substance later field-tested positive for marijuana.
The passenger “claimed that this marijuana was for personal use and that he had a medical marijuana card back in California,” an affidavit signed by Department of Homeland Security special agent Joseph Angarone said.
Law enforcement initially encountered Quesenberry and Minami together in a “passenger room,” but she said she did not know Quesenberry before meeting him at a bar on the ship and was allowed to go on her way. After the discovery, however, law enforcement found Minami at a bar on board and searched her luggage, which similarly contained 56 vacuum-sealed bags of what later field tested positive for marijuana.
“Based on my training and experience, the packaging and quantity of marijuana in the luggage belonging to each of Quesenberry and Minami is consistent with drug trafficking and distribution,” the affidavit said. “Further, based on my training and experience, drug traffickers are increasingly turning to exportation of marijuana from the United States to England, due to the higher price of marijuana in England.”
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Both are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. An attorney for Quesenberry declined to comment. An attorney for Minami did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"The safety and security of our guests is, as always, our top priority," a Norwegian spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "As such, Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right to confiscate any items on the Prohibited Items List, and may notify authorities when necessary."
While U.S. state laws around marijuana vary, it remains illegal at the federal level and is prohibited on board cruise ships.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norwegian cruise guests allegedly bring 112 bags of marijuana on board
