All That and a Bag of Meth: Smuggler Busted for Stashing Drugs With Potato Chips

Mmm, Meth Chips! (Photo courtesy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

You just can't take stuff onto planes the way you used to. You know: Giant shampoo bottles, razor blades, methamphetamines.

A 21-year-old Compton man is learning it is not okay to try to conceal your meth in some potato chip bags and board a flight at Los Angeles International Airport. Even if they are cheddar and bacon flavored.

Lemuel Giovani Espinosa was busted on Wednesday after TSA officers noticed something unusual in his backpack: A couple of bags of TGI Friday's Potato Skins chips. But it wasn't the chips themselves which raised the eyebrows of the screeners--it was the nearly five pounds of meth tucked inside.

Espinosa had been on his way to Japan with the goods (and the goodies!), say Customs officials. He was expecting a payment of $6,000 for his efforts, though the drugs have an estimated street value of over $200,000 in Japan.

The suspect was taken into custody, and awaits an October 3 arraignment. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

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