November 29, 2024 – LOS ANGELES, CA – A San Fernando Valley man was indicted on Tuesday for allegedly possessing two suitcases containing more than a dozen clothing items – including a cow pajama onesie – caked in methamphetamine while preparing to board a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Australia.   

Raj Matharu, 31, of Northridge, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Matharu is scheduled to be arraigned on December 2 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. He is free on $10,000 bond.

“Drug dealers are continually inventing creative ways of smuggling dangerous narcotics in pursuit of illicit profit – as alleged in the facts of this case,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “In the process, they are poisoning communities throughout the world. Law enforcement is committed to fighting drug trafficking, knowing that every seizure saves lives.”

According to court documents, on November 6, Matharu attempted to travel from Los Angeles to Sydney. At the ticket counter, Matharu checked two luggage items, one pink suitcase and one gray suitcase.

After Matharu checked the suitcases, screening officers X-rayed them. The X-ray revealed irregularities and officers pulled the suitcases for a secondary inspection.  Upon opening the suitcases, law enforcement found the suitcases contained more than a dozen white or light-colored clothing items that were dried stiff and covered in a white residue.

Law enforcement field-tested a sample of the residue, which yielded positive results for methamphetamine. The total weight of the clothing items with the methamphetamine caked into them was approximately 32.4 kilograms (71.5 pounds). Law enforcement later extracted more than one kilogram of methamphetamine residue from the clothing in Matharu’s suitcases. 

Officers intercepted Matharu on the jet bridge to his flight to Australia, and he was later arrested. 

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, Matharu would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter. United States Customs and Border Protection provided assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney Diane Roldán of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

Source: DOJ Release