The Costa Rica Cocaine Can Conspiracy: How U.S. Citizens Turned Airline Luggage into Drug Mules

In a plot straight out of a crime thriller, six U.S. citizens have been handed their fate for masterminding a cocaine trafficking ring, cleverly disguised as an “all-expenses-paid” vacation scheme from Costa Rica to the United States. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, Northern District of Georgia, announced the sentences, closing the chapter on a saga that sounds like it was ripped from a Hollywood script.

The Ingenious Drug Import Scheme

From around 2015 to 2018, the convicted, surnamed Arias, Newton, Blair, Barros, Vernon, and Kelleher, orchestrated a cocaine import conspiracy that would make even the most seasoned criminals raise their eyebrows. Cocaine was sourced from Costa Rica, packed into sealed cans masquerading as food, and smuggled into the U.S. via unsuspecting travelers’ checked luggage.

Anthony Blair: The Mastermind

Anthony Blair, 44, the Atlanta-based ringleader, played the role of a twisted travel agent, recruiting over 60 travelers for a “free vacation” to Costa Rica. Little did these travelers know, they were becoming unwitting drug mules. Blair’s sentence: 20 years behind bars, plus a forfeiture of $434,195 in drug profits.

The Role of Accomplices

Barros, 37, from Massachusetts, and Arias, 39, from North Carolina, were pivotal in the operation. Barros received a 14-year sentence, and Arias got four years for their roles in cocaine importation and money laundering. Newton, 34, also from North Carolina, got a lighter sentence of just over a year for similar charges.

Vernon and Kelleher: Lesser Roles, Lighter Sentences

Vernon, 34, from Georgia, and Kelleher, 32, from Massachusetts, played smaller parts in this grand scheme. Vernon was sentenced to three years in prison, while Kelleher got off with three years of probation for their involvement in the conspiracy.

The Collapse of the Cocaine Can Conspiracy

The operation imported over 150 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. but met its demise when U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents found cocaine in the luggage of two travelers. Blair was arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, leading to the unraveling of the entire network.

Living the High Life on Drug Money

The defendants weren’t exactly modest with their ill-gotten gains. Lavish lifestyles, including a $14,000 per month Atlanta-area apartment, were funded by the drug money. But as they say, all good (or in this case, bad) things must come to an end.

A Multifaceted Investigation

This case was cracked wide open thanks to the collaborative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Atlanta Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler A. Mann and Calvin A. Leipold III.

A Modern-Day Crime Saga Comes to an End

This story serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of clever but illegal schemes. While the defendants may have thought they were outsmarting the system, justice had the last word. Their sentences send a clear message: crime, especially when it involves endangering innocent travelers, does not pay.