Key Takeaways
• Diane Bahlawan arrested May 6, 2025, at SFO with 151 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags.
• Large cannabis amounts violate California law and federal law enforced at airports like SFO.
• Smuggling cannabis internationally risks fines, jail, visa revocation, and permanent criminal records.
A 34-year-old woman named Diane Bahlawan was arrested at San Francisco International Airport (commonly called SFO) on May 6, 2025. This happened after security officers discovered that she was allegedly trying to get on a flight to Frankfurt, Germany with a huge amount of marijuana hidden in her checked luggage. The amount was about 151 pounds, separated into 131 vacuum-sealed bags and packed inside four rolling suitcases. This arrest has caught public attention and has raised ongoing questions about the rules for traveling with cannabis, especially when it comes to flying out of California, a state where recreational marijuana use is legal.
Let’s look more closely at what happened, what the laws say, what this means for people traveling through SFO, and why the authorities are still treating these kinds of cases so seriously.
What Happened at San Francisco International Airport
On the morning of May 6th, Diane Bahlawan checked four suitcases at the San Francisco International Airport for her planned flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Security staff noticed that her luggage was much heavier than usual. When they opened the bags to see why, officers found a total of 151 pounds of marijuana, all packed tightly into 131 separate vacuum-sealed bags.
Airport police then arrested Bahlawan at the scene. Along with the drugs, they took away her boarding pass, her smartphone, and $960 in cash. All these items were seized as part of the investigation, as reported by VisaVerge.com. After her arrest, she was charged with two crimes: unlawful transport of marijuana and burglary. Bahlawan was able to pay bail and was released after her arrest. She is scheduled to return to court on June 2.
Legal Background: Cannabis Laws in California vs. Federal and International Law
Californians have been allowed to use marijuana for recreational purposes for over six years, thanks to state law. This means that adults can carry small amounts of cannabis for their personal use. However, there are strict limits. Carrying large amounts—like 151 pounds—is not allowed by state law, because it suggests the cannabis is for selling or distributing, not just personal use.
Even more important for travelers, just because something is legal in one state (like California) does not mean it is allowed elsewhere. Airports, especially international airports like SFO, are places where federal law is enforced. Under federal law in the United States 🇺🇸, marijuana is still illegal—even in states where local laws allow it. And once you travel out of the country, you face the laws of your destination as well.
Flying to Frankfurt meant Bahlawan was about to bring cannabis into Germany 🇩🇪, a country where marijuana possession and trafficking are strictly banned by law. Because of this, any attempt to carry large amounts of cannabis through an international airport is treated as a very serious issue by security and customs officers.
How Security Officers Detected the Marijuana
Airport staff are trained to catch anything suspicious. In this case, the officers noticed Diane Bahlawan’s checked luggage weighed much more than the average passenger’s. When suitcase weights are outside the normal range, it often triggers extra checks.
During a closer inspection of the bags, officers found the 131 vacuum-sealed packs, which they believe were an attempt to keep the smell from leaking and prevent drug-sniffing dogs from detecting the marijuana. This type of careful packaging is something officials often see in smuggling attempts, which usually aim to move large amounts of a product—like marijuana—illegally.
Charges Faced by Diane Bahlawan
Diane Bahlawan is facing two main criminal charges:
- Unlawful Transport of Marijuana: This charge is brought when someone tries to move large amounts of cannabis in a way that the law does not allow. While personal use in small amounts is legal under California law, moving 151 pounds is never permitted.
- Burglary: While most people think of burglary as breaking into a building, the law in California sometimes uses this charge in drug smuggling cases to cover entering a place (like an airport) with the intent to commit a felony or theft offense.
She posted bail, which is a payment that allows a person to leave jail while waiting for their court day, and must return to court on June 2.
Why People Still Try to Smuggle Cannabis Out of California
California has a legal and strong marijuana market. People can buy it in stores, and the price is lower than in many other places. Outside California, and especially in other countries, marijuana remains illegal and much harder to find. Because of this, prices on the illegal, or black, market are often much higher.
Some people or groups try to buy cannabis in California and secretly take it to places like other U.S. states or even foreign countries, hoping to sell it for a big profit. The risks are high, as airport checks and federal law both make this illegal, but for some, the possible financial reward seems worth the risk.
This kind of smuggling is not new, but it does pose a special challenge for authorities in states where marijuana is now legal. As airports work to prevent these crimes, they use x-ray machines, drug-sniffing dogs, and other screening tools, especially on international flights.
Possible Penalties
If found guilty, Diane Bahlawan could face serious consequences. Penalties for smuggling marijuana can include:
- Fines that can reach into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars
- Jail or prison time, depending on the amount and the person’s criminal history
- Being banned from traveling to other countries for years or for life, since a drug conviction can make it hard to get visas or permission to enter places like the EU
For a U.S. citizen, a conviction in a case like this would also mean having a permanent criminal record, which can make it hard to get jobs, housing, or loans in the future.
If the person attempting to smuggle drugs is not a citizen, things can be even more serious. U.S. immigration law treats drug trafficking as a very serious crime, and a conviction can result in the person losing their immigration status or being forced to leave the United States.
Impact on Travelers at SFO and Other Airports
This incident is a reminder that airports like San Francisco International Airport must balance California’s own marijuana laws with federal and international rules. For travelers, especially those heading to other states or countries, the message is simple: do not try to take marijuana with you outside California, and never try to check it on a plane.
Some airports in California have posted signs telling travelers to leave their cannabis behind before going through security. However, problems still happen, and every year, a small number of people are caught trying to take cannabis to other places.
Travelers should also know that customs and border patrol officers are required by law to report any suspected smuggling attempts and enforce federal law, even though California allows recreational cannabis. This applies both for international and domestic flights.
How the Law Treats Marijuana at the Airport
Here’s a simple summary of how the rules work at airports:
- California law: Adults 21 years and older can carry up to 28.5 grams (about 1 ounce) of marijuana for personal use and up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis. Anything more is illegal.
- Federal law: Marijuana is illegal anywhere in the United States under federal law. The rules are extra strict at airports and on airplanes, which fall under federal control.
- International travel: Every country has its own laws, but most do not allow marijuana possession, sale, or transport. Bringing marijuana to another country can lead to arrest, heavy fines, and even prison time.
For more details, travelers can check the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance at their website.
The Role of San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is one of the busiest international airports in the United States. It handles flights to and from all over the world, including many places where marijuana is banned completely. That makes airport security officers especially careful when it comes to people’s luggage, especially when bags seem heavier than usual or packed in suspicious ways.
According to reports, most people caught with marijuana at San Francisco International Airport only have small amounts for personal use and are usually told to throw it away before going through security. However, when someone tries to transport large amounts, like Diane Bahlawan did, it becomes a federal crime and leads to arrest.
How Smugglers Attempt to Avoid Detection
People who hope to move drugs through airports sometimes use common tricks:
- Using vacuum-sealed bags to prevent smells from getting out
- Dividing the drugs into several smaller bags to hide them inside luggage
- Checking multiple bags to spread out the risk
- Packing the drugs inside other items to try to fool x-ray machines or drug-sniffing dogs
Security officers are trained to spot these methods. Their main goal is to keep dangerous or illegal items off planes, and they work with local and federal law enforcement to handle any crimes that occur.
What This Means for Immigration and International Travelers
For people traveling into or out of the United States, carrying drugs—even in states that allow cannabis—can have very serious consequences. International travelers should remember that being caught with forbidden drugs at an airport can result in:
- Arrest and criminal charges
- Loss of visa privileges
- Being refused entry to other countries
- Possible bans on future travel
U.S. citizens can also lose the ability to travel to certain countries if found guilty of drug trafficking.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that cases like Diane Bahlawan’s happen despite clear signs and regular warnings, showing that confusion still exists among some travelers or that a few decide to take the risk for possible profit.
Why Not All States or Countries Allow Cannabis
Marijuana laws are changing in many states in the United States, but federal law has not changed. Outside the United States, laws can be even stricter. Some countries have very harsh punishments for drug trafficking, including long jail sentences. In Germany, for example, marijuana is illegal for recreational use, and being caught with a large quantity can lead to serious legal trouble.
This difference in laws from place to place is a major reason why carrying cannabis through busy international airports like SFO is risky and often leads to arrest.
Lessons and Advice for Travelers
Diane Bahlawan’s arrest is a clear sign that even in places where local laws have changed, travelers must follow federal rules at airports and follow the laws in their destination countries. If you’re flying out of San Francisco International Airport or any other airport in California, and you have marijuana with you—even in small amounts—the safest choice is to leave it at home.
- Do not pack cannabis in check-in or carry-on bags for any flight.
- Remember that local, federal, and international laws might all apply at the airport.
- Large amounts always mean bigger trouble.
If you are ever unsure about what you can bring, check the official rules before your trip. The San Francisco International Airport website also has helpful travel tips.
Conclusion
What happened at San Francisco International Airport with Diane Bahlawan is a good reminder for both Americans and visitors about the complexities of drug laws. Even if marijuana is legal where you live, it is not legal everywhere – and the rules often become much stricter at airports.
Diane Bahlawan now faces long-term impacts from her decision, including possible jail time, steep fines, and a criminal record. For those who travel through SFO or any international hub, the best advice is simple: never try to take marijuana or any illegal item when you fly. The law is clear, and airport authorities will continue to enforce it to keep everyone safe and to prevent drugs from crossing borders.
Learn Today
Vacuum-sealed bags → Plastic packages with air removed to prevent scent escaping and hide contents like drugs during transport.
Federal law → The national legal system in the U.S. that forbids marijuana possession and transport regardless of state laws.
Burglary → Legally means entering a place with intent to commit a felony, used here in drug smuggling cases.
Bail → Money paid to enable temporary release from jail while awaiting trial or court appearances.
Smuggling → Illegally transporting goods or substances like drugs across borders to avoid detection and law enforcement.
This Article in a Nutshell
Diane Bahlawan was caught at San Francisco Airport trying to smuggle 151 pounds of marijuana to Germany. Despite California’s legal cannabis use, federal law and international rules prohibit this. Her arrest highlights the serious penalties and risks involved in transporting large drug quantities through airports internationally.
— By VisaVerge.com
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