Two brothers are facing serious trafficking charges after authorities say they tried to move more than 200 pounds of marijuana through Raleigh-Durham International Airport, stuffing the bulk of it into their checked luggage.
Court filings identify the men as Alexis Adorno and Christopher Adorno. Prosecutors have charged both with trafficking and conspiring to traffic marijuana. One brother is being held on a $1 million bond, while the other secured release on a $250,000 bond, according to court records.
WRAL reports that court documents attribute more than 120 pounds of marijuana in checked bags to Alexis Adorno, who is listed as being from New York, and nearly 70 pounds to Christopher Adorno, listed as being from Connecticut. The arrests date to Jan. 15, 2026, and both men are now recorded on trafficking and conspiracy counts in Wake County court records.
How officers say they uncovered the shipment
Investigators say the bust started at the baggage claim area at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the Triangle’s main air hub. A K-9 working with Wake County ABC enforcement agents allegedly alerted to the brothers’ checked luggage, prompting officers to pull the bags for a closer look.
After the K-9 alert, officers conducted a targeted search that they say uncovered the bulk marijuana shipment inside the luggage. The brothers were arrested at the airport and processed through the Wake County detention system, and officers cataloged the seized marijuana as evidence in what authorities describe as an ongoing investigation into interstate drug transportation.
What the charges mean in North Carolina
In North Carolina, possessing or transporting more than 10 pounds of marijuana can trigger felony trafficking charges, with penalties that ratchet up as the weight climbs. Larger quantities bring longer prison terms and steeper fines under state law.
Those weight tiers and potential penalties are detailed in the North Carolina General Statutes. If prosecutors move forward based on the higher-weight categories described in the court filings, the defendants could be looking at multi-year prison sentences and substantial financial penalties if convicted.
What’s next
Court records show the case is still pending in Wake County. Records reviewed by WRAL indicate that Alexis Adorno is being held at the Wake County Detention Center, while Christopher Adorno has posted bond.
Prosecutors are expected to continue reviewing the search, the seized evidence and the charging decisions as the case moves through its early hearings. Local authorities have not released any additional public comment while the investigation continues.
