CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SANTA ANA
Orange County authorities say a man has been arrested at John Wayne Airport after a security screener found cocaine packages strapped to his legs under his baggy pants.
Authorities say Paul Francis Smith was arrested Monday morning after a Transportation Security Administration screener patted him down and found two packages containing 4.4 pounds of cocaine worth $60,000. He was booked on suspicion of transportation and sale of cocaine, with bail set at $500,000.
Orange County sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino said the 22-year-old Smith, who was discharged from the U.S. Navy about two months ago, tried to conceal the drugs under baggy jogging pants.
Smith had a ticket on a Las Vegas flight that was scheduled to go on to Philadelphia.
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