Police at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá detained three U.S. citizens in the international departures area in late March 2026. They were bound for São Paulo, Brazil.
Officers say about 30 kilograms of marijuana, split into 29 packages, was hidden in their checked bags. Samples were sent to a police laboratory to confirm the THC content.
Authorities said the case was pending judicial proceedings. The report does not name the three people and does not state specific charges. The operation was part of a police airport campaign called Esmeralda Plus.
The information comes from police, as relayed by a Colombian news agency, so it should be read as the police account. No one has been found guilty.
Why it matters: Bags checked out of Colombia are screened before departure, and the traveler is the one answerable for what is inside. Never carry a bag for someone else.
Source: Vanguardia (Colprensa), 2026-03-29. Forgotten Prisoner's account is based on this reporting. An arrest or charge is not proof of guilt.