April 25--A Minnesota woman arrested with more than 38 pounds of drugs in her luggage at O'Hare International Airport was returning to her home state after traveling to Laos, police said Monday.
Khoua Vang, 49, appeared in bond court at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, where Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered her held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Vang was arrested about 3 a.m. Saturday after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers contacted the Cook County sheriff's office when they found more than 3,500 methamphetamine pills and about 37 1/2 pounds of opium in her luggage, according to a release from the Cook County sheriff's office.
Vang had returned to the United States on a flight from South Korea after traveling to Laos and who was scheduled to fly home to Minnesota, where she lives in the 11100 block of County Highway 5 in Walnut Grove, Minn., according to authorities.
The confiscated drugs were believed to have a street value of almost $518,000, according to court records.
Vang, who also was ordered to surrender her passport, faces various charges related to methamphetamine possession and dealing as well as charges related to opium possession and dealing after being arrested Friday at O'Hare's International Terminal.
Her next court appearance is May 13.
