Dulles International Airport employee admits to importing cocaine into US

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A Peruvian man pleaded guilty Thursday to importing cocaine into the United States while working at Dulles International Airport (IAD).

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of April 24, 43-year-old José Luis Castillo Rojas flew into Dulles from Tocumen International Airport in Panamá with a cargo bag and backpack.

While inspecting his cargo bag, authorities found multiple packages of cocaine, totaling 1.95 kilograms, as well as more than  $54,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency.

The cocaine was hidden inside baked goods and other food items.

At the time, he was employed by an airport services company at IAD and had a Special Access Seal, which was issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service. This granted him unescorted access to customs security areas, including international flights and secure baggage areas.

While searching his phone, authorities said they found texts in which Castillo Rojas discussed getting the cargo bag from someone in Peru and payment for delivering the bag to someone in the U.S.

He could face up to 40 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6.