PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – A man was removed from a flight at Portland International Airport after investigators said a significant amount of marijuana was found in his checked luggage. He now faces multiple felony charges.<\/p>\n
According to Port of Portland Police, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners flagged the piece of checked luggage on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Officers said they found a large vacuum-sealed bag containing 24 smaller black plastic bags. One of the bags contained marijuana buds.<\/p>\n
Police said the bags containing marijuana weighed about 30 pounds. However, a probable cause affidavit did not specify the exact weight of the drugs.<\/p>\n
Officers traced the luggage to 38-year-old Zachariah Primus, who had already boarded an Alaska Airlines flight bound for New York\u2019s John F. Kennedy International Airport.<\/p>\n
Primus was instructed to return to the gate, where Port of Portland police arrested him.<\/p>\n
He was booked into the Multnomah County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.<\/p>\n
Primus is charged with illegal import or export of marijuana items, unlawful delivery of a marijuana item and unlawful possession of marijuana.<\/p>\n
According to the Multnomah County District Attorney\u2019s Office, Primus possessed more than 256 ounces (16 pounds) of usable marijuana .<\/p>\n
This is the third marijuana seizure at Portland International Airport that FOX 12 has reported on since May.<\/p>\n
On May 3, police arrested a man accused of attempting to take 50 pounds of marijuana on a flight.<\/p>\n
Then, on May 7, Port of Portland police said they found another 57 pounds of marijuana hidden inside superglued bags in a passenger\u2019s checked luggage. The woman told investigators she did not know what was inside the bags and said she had been paid to transport them.<\/p>\n
Primus was arraigned Thursday. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 30.<\/p>\n
FOX 12 has asked Portland International Airport officials whether they have noticed an uptick in marijuana-related cases in recent months. We expect to receive a response after the Fourth of July holiday weekend.<\/p>\n
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