Two European travelers headed for South America are now facing federal drug charges instead of boarding passes, after agents say they tried to move nearly 170 pounds of hashish through Miami International Airport.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, a federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted Joseph Mark Delacruz, 24, of the United Kingdom, and Sezer Ali Ilhan, 20, of Germany. Both are charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and attempting to export a controlled substance.
Prosecutors say the hashish was packed into four checked suitcases bound for flights to São Paulo, Brazil. Court filings state that outbound inspections on February 11 turned up approximately 38.32 kilograms of hashish in two suitcases checked under Delacruz’s name and about 37.77 kilograms in two suitcases tied to Ilhan, for a combined haul of more than 76 kilograms. Authorities say both men were intercepted at their departure gates before they could board.
How Officers Say The Bags Were Found
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound screenings at Miami International Airport reportedly flagged the checked luggage for closer review. A CBP K-9 then alerted to Ilhan’s bags, and a subsequent search revealed multiple vacuum-sealed packages inside, according to CBS Miami. The outlet also reports that prosecutors announced the indictments and that the cases are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Not An Isolated Trend
The arrests are the latest in a string of sizable outbound drug busts at Miami International this month. Local 10 reported an earlier seizure of more than 81 pounds of hashish in checked luggage, while a separate incident involving two California travelers and suitcases filled with marijuana was highlighted in Cali duo busted at MIA. Together, the cases underscore how K-9 teams and targeted outbound inspections have been driving some of the airport’s biggest recent drug interceptions.
Legal Stakes And Penalties
If convicted, Delacruz and Ilhan each face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release. Prosecutors note that charges involving attempted export and possession with intent to distribute large amounts of controlled substances carry substantial federal penalties. They also emphasize that indictments are accusations only and that both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What Happens Next
Court records for the cases can be found under docket numbers 26-cr-20060 (Delacruz) and 26-cr-20059 (Ilhan) on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida website at flsd.uscourts.gov. Homeland Security Investigations in Miami is leading the ongoing investigation, while prosecutors from the Border and Immigration Crimes Enforcement (BICE) Section are handling the criminal cases, according to information linked to the federal announcement.
The indictments highlight a continued federal push to intercept large drug shipments before they leave U.S. soil, and future filings in the Southern District of Florida docket are expected to chart what happens next for the two accused travelers.
