A baggage check at the Galveston Cruise Port on Easter Sunday led to the arrest of a Royal Caribbean passenger suspected of drug smuggling.
The Galveston County Daily News reported that the suspect was Jeffery Don Conkey, 63, of Henderson, Texas, who was arrested, citing court records. It said he was a guest aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas.
It wasn’t a random baggage inspection. A probable cause affidavit states Conkey was selected for detailed screening as he was “encountered for bringing marijuana through a border crossing back in 2018.”
Court documents indicate that he has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, confirmed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
More than 160 grams were Seized
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said an inspection uncovered more than 160 grams of heroin, fentanyl and THC vape oil from the baggage at Galveston Port following a cruise to Mexico.
Officers found multiple vape pens with THC as well as prescription pill bottles containing powder.
Testing of the powder confirmed it to be both fentanyl and heroin. There was a total of 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl. He was turned over to local authorities for prosecution.
“Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction in this country and CBP works every day to keep Americans safe from dangerous and deadly drugs,” said John Landry, the Acting CBP Area Port Director.
“Thanks to the vigilance of our CBP officers, we continue to intercept these deadly substances at our ports of entry.”
Fentanyl is a primary cause of overdose deaths in the US, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
The CBP says just one kilogram of fentanyl can cause up to 500,000 deaths.
Although drug seizures at the southern border were up over 10% in 2024, fentanyl seizures are down year-over-year.
Conkey posted bail and is due in court on June 5.
