Cannabis Cup attendees busted for souvenirs

Poster for a previous Cannabis Cup.

Returning pot-fest attendees caught carrying ‘souvenirs’
By CHRISTINE OLLEY | Philadelphia Daily News | Dec. 3, 2009 | olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184

That’s quite a souvenir.

Two travelers returning to Philadelphia after spending time at the Cannabis Cup marijuana festival in Amsterdam over the weekend were caught with pot stashed in their underwear.

The men, who arrived at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday, were stopped and searched after a customs drug-sniffing dog alerted officers, officials said.

Three travelers who returned from the Cannabis Cup on Friday were also stopped and one was found to be carrying marijuana, said Steve Sapp, a spokesman for the Customs and Border Patrol.

Customs officers also seized more than 1,850 pieces of drug paraphernalia from the travelers, including rolling papers and smoking tubes known as one-hitters.

The three found with marijuana, a combined 20 grams, were fined $500 but not charged criminally because of the small amount each was carrying, Sapp said.

The two others were not charged.

On Sunday, officers also seized 10 pounds of khat, a leaf that is chewed as a stimulant, and 22 pounds of pork products, five pounds of chestnuts and 2 1/2 pounds of persimmons, officials said.

“Food parcels are illegal to bring into the country without a USDA permit,” Sapp explained.