Woman arrested at PDX with nearly 60 pounds of marijuana, planned to resell, court docs allege

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - A woman faces criminal charges after airport police found nearly 60 pounds of marijuana packed inside two checked suitcases at Portland International Airport, according to court documents filed in Multnomah County.

This is the sixth marijuana bust at PDX FOX12 has covered this year.

Port of Portland police arrested and cited Janay Mateo, 39, on Aug. 31 at a United Airlines boarding gate after screeners discovered the load during routine baggage inspections.

According to a newly filed probable cause affidavit, officers first responded to the airport’s checked baggage screening area around 3:45 a.m. for a suitcase containing multiple vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana. Records showed Mateo had checked the bag at the United ticket counter about 40 minutes earlier.

Investigators discovered that Mateo had checked a second piece of luggage. The United gate agent pulled the bag before it was loaded onto the plane. Officers located Mateo waiting at the gate and took her into custody.

Police said Mateo admitted the second suitcase also contained marijuana and consented to a search. Combined, detectives reported finding 50 vacuum-sealed packages across both bags, totaling roughly 59.5 pounds. The packages were labeled with names commonly associated with marijuana strains.

During questioning, Mateo told detectives she planned to take the marijuana to Maryland to resell it, though she said she uses marijuana daily and intended to keep most of it for personal use, court records state.

“The way things are going these days, people are desperate, I guess, and that’s extreme measures,” said flyer Gina Akachat. “People are just bold.”

Security footage also revealed Mateo had been traveling with a companion who checked three suitcases.

Portland investigators alerted law enforcement in Pennsylvania, where authorities stopped the man after he landed.

Officers found approximately 65 pounds of suspected marijuana and a $62,195 receipt detailing pot strains and pricing inside his luggage, according to the affidavit. Police identified the man as Glenn Sanders through a Delaware driver’s license.

Mateo faces charges of unlawful marijuana export, unlawful delivery of a marijuana item, and unlawful possession.

Her arraignment is scheduled for September 30.