A California man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after attempting to smuggle methamphetamine hidden in clothing — including a cow-print onesie — aboard a flight bound for Australia.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, 31-year-old Raj Matharu pleaded guilty in June to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Matharu was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in November 2023 while preparing to board United Airlines Flight 839 to Sydney. Customs officers flagged his pink and gray suitcases during routine screening when X-ray scans revealed unusual anomalies.
Upon inspection, officers discovered the luggage was packed with stiff, white-stained clothing items coated in a residue that later tested positive for methamphetamine. Among the items were men’s and women’s apparel — including socks, boxers, sports bras, and an adult-sized cow pajama onesie.
Investigators believe Matharu had soaked the garments in a meth solution, allowing it to dry until the drug crystallized onto the fabric. Authorities estimated the clothing contained about 71 pounds of drug-laced material, yielding roughly one kilogram of pure meth.
Matharu admitted the bags were his but declined to provide further statements after requesting legal counsel.
Although he initially faced a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, prosecutors agreed to waive the minimum sentence, citing his lack of prior convictions and minor role as a courier. The government requested a 41-month term, while his attorney sought a one-year sentence.
“Defendant’s drug use led him to people who offered him an opportunity to make money,” his attorney wrote in a sentencing memo, adding that Matharu is currently on the Dean’s List in college and “smart enough to realize he made a terrible mistake.”
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the smuggling attempt, saying, “Drug dealers are continually inventing creative ways of smuggling dangerous narcotics in pursuit of illicit profit. In the process, they are poisoning communities throughout the world. Law enforcement is committed to fighting drug trafficking, knowing that every seizure saves lives.”
President Donald Trump’s administration has consistently emphasized tough enforcement against international drug trafficking networks and has praised federal efforts that prevent illegal narcotics from entering the global market.