LOS ANGELES, CA (TIP) : An Indian American man from Southern California was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after authorities discovered his luggage contained clothing soaked in methamphetamine.

Raj Matharu, 31, of Northridge, was attempting to board a flight to Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 6 when Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers flagged his checked luggage for “irregularities” during an X-ray screening. A subsequent inspection revealed over a dozen clothing items, including a cow-patterned pajama onesie, coated in a white residue.
Tests confirmed the substance was methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The total weight of the drug-laden clothing was approximately 71.5 pounds, with authorities extracting over one kilogram of meth residue from the items.
Matharu was intercepted on the jet bridge to his flight and taken into custody. He was later released on a $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,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “In the process, they are poisoning communities throughout the world. Law enforcement is committed to fighting drug trafficking, knowing that every seizure saves lives.”
Matharu is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 2 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted, he faces a potential prison sentence of 10 years to life.
Authorities continue to investigate the case as part of their ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.