Marijuana Seized By Customs At Philly Airport, Man Fined $1,000

PHILADELPHIA — Customs and Border Protection found a small amount of marijuana on a Florida man flying in from the Netherlands and levied a fine against him.

According to Customs, a Miami man was flying in from Amsterdam, the Netherlands Thursday.

The man processed his admission on a Global Entry self-help kiosk.

But, a roving customs officer referred the man to a secondary baggage examination.

During that examination, officers found a green leafy substance in a zip locked bag labeled "The Plug – Jetlag" inside a toiletry bag.

Customs said the substance tested positive for cannabis.

The marijuana weighed 2.5 grams.

Customs officers assessed a $1,000 zero tolerance penalty to the Miami man, who was not charged, and advised him that his Global Entry membership was being revoked.

"Global Entry is a Customs and Border Protection trusted traveler program that places a significant measure of trust in pre-approved, low-risk travelers and allows them expedited clearance during international arrivals. It is not a license to deliberately violate our nation’s laws," Joseph Martella, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, said. "Trusted traveler programs are a cornerstone to CBP’s border security mission of facilitating lawful trade and travel and the integrity of these programs remain of paramount concern to us."

While the goal of Global Entry is to provide pre-vetted travelers with an expedited entry process, members are expected to comply with all U.S. laws and regulations and may still be randomly selected for further examination.

Customs urge all travelers to visit CBP’s Travel website to 'know before they go' and learn rules governing travel to and from the U.S., which products are prohibited or inadmissible, and what they must declare to CBP upon their arrival.

Customs screens international travelers and cargo and searches for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, invasive weeds and pests, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality.