Woman faces drug smuggling charges after arrest at Honolulu airport

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A 30-year-old woman remains in federal custody on charges that she tried to smuggle cocaine on a flight from Honolulu to Japan Saturday.

Vanesa Selena Ramirez made her initial court appearance on Tuesday.

Customs agents at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport claim they found about 34 pounds of cocaine in two bags she checked for a flight to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

Special agents say Ramirez told them she was offered $5,000 to fly to Honolulu, pick up the suitcases, and transport them to Tokyo. Court documents say she told officials she knew the contents of the bags were illegal but did not think they contained drugs.

Prosecutors filed a motion to detain Ramirez without bail. A hearing will be held July 6.