K9 Detective Blaise Sniffs Out 56 Pounds of Marijuana at Des Moines Airport

A significant amount of marijuana was discovered at the Des Moines International Airport on Thursday, thanks to the keen sense of smell of a police K9 dog named Blaise. The investigation began with an anonymous tip that a large shipment of the drug was on a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Des Moines. Upon arrival, two suitcases were identified as potential carriers of the illegal substance. Blaise conducted an open-air sniff and alerted investigators to the presence of narcotics, leading to a search of the luggage. A 21-year-old man from California claimed the suitcases and was detained by authorities. A search warrant was obtained, and 56 pounds of marijuana were found inside. The man was charged with two class D felonies: controlled substance violation and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. He is currently being held at the Polk County Jail while the investigation continues. This is not the first time the Des Moines Police Department has made a significant drug bust, as they seized over 300 pounds of illegal drugs valued at over $5 million in 2023 with the help of their K9 unit.