Federal authorities in Las Vegas say a 19-year-old Southern California man has pleaded guilty months after officers discovered more than 70 pounds of ketamine hidden inside his luggage at Harry Reid International Airport. Legal documents revealed how the massive drug bust happened after the traveler underwent a secondary baggage inspection by Customs officers.
Harry Reid Airport Ketamine Seizure Leads to Guilty Plea
The Harry Reid Airport drug case centers on Nehemiah Bayonne, who admitted in federal court to importing and possessing ketamine with the intent to distribute. According to court documents cited and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bayonne arrived in Las Vegas from London, England, on or around Sept. 29, 2025.
After deboarding, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer referred Bayonne to Customs for a baggage inspection. However, he underwent a secondary inspection, at which point everything unfolded. During the search, officers allegedly discovered 32 bricks of ketamine hidden inside two suitcases. Authorities said each bag contained 16 wrapped bricks of the controlled substance. Investigators estimated the total weight of the seized ketamine at 32.8 kilograms, or roughly 72.3 pounds.
Federal prosecutors said Bayonne now faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $1 million fine. The young adult entered a guilty plea, admitting to one count of importing a controlled substance and one count of possession with the intent to distribute said controlled substance. U.S District Judge Cristina D. Silva scheduled his sentencing for later this year, in August.
In addition to a possible prison stint of up to 20 years, Bayonne’s statutory penalty also includes a mandatory special assignment and a period of supervised release.
What The DEA Says About Ketamine
Commonly known as “special K,” Ketamine is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, ketamine is a dissociative substance that has some hallucinogenic effects on users.
It is known to twist the perception of sound and sight, making the user feel a lack of control or disconnection. Zappos founder and Downtown Las Vegas visionary Tony Hsieh struggled with mental health issues that resulted in drug use. Hsieh’s shocking death in a house fire in 2020 has been linked to the debilitating effects of Ketamine.
Authorities Are Dedicated To Clamping Down On Such Vices
Back in 2025, the Customs and Border Patrol unit foiled a similar attempt to transport ketamine when an officer apprehended a woman at Harry Reid International Airport. The individual identified as Rubeen Grimes had a luggage containing over 100 pounds of the controlled substance.
A patrol officer had discovered the illegal item after bringing Grimes in for a primary review of her luggage. Per Vegas Fox5, Grimes confirmed she owned the contents of the luggage before nervously including that a friend named Jason helped her pack it. Like Bayonne, authorities charged her with importation of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
