U.S. Customs: Three Minnesota women found at Chicago airport with $3M in heroin, opium

CHICAGO, May 12 (UPI) -- Three Minnesota women are being held at a Chicago-area jail after O'Hare International Airport customs agents allegedly found more than $3 million in opium and heroin in their luggage.

Pa Yang, 57, Mai Vue Vang, 58, and True Thao, 52, are each being held on $50,000 cash bonds. The women were passengers on a flight from Japan to O'Hare airport. When customs agents searched their luggage, they allegedly found about 31.5 kilograms, or about 69 pounds, of opium and heroin in 470 packets. The packets were concealed in bags of tea leaves, authorities said.

"Even though these would-be smugglers are trying new concealment methods each and every day, I just want to remind them that if they try to get through Chicago, we will catch them!" Matthew Davies, Chicago Area Port director, said.

The drugs have a street value of about $3 million.