Anett Pikula is a Phoenix woman who was arrested on July 19, 2015, at the Lukeville Port of Entry in Arizona after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found 13 pounds of cocaine hidden in her gold Mercedes-Benz. She was 39 at the time. The case drew national attention because of what first drew officers’ suspicion: she was, by their account, flirting with the agent at the checkpoint.
What Happened at the Lukeville Crossing
Pikula was driving a 2006 gold Mercedes-Benz coupe north from Mexico through the Lukeville crossing. During primary inspection, officers noted she was “overly talkative.” CBP spokesman Garrett Reinhart later told reporters that “flirtation was what was going on” between Pikula and the inspecting officer.1CBS News. Border Patrol: Arizona Woman’s Flirtation Leads to Cocaine Bust The behavior raised suspicion rather than easing it, and officers referred her to secondary inspection.
A canine unit alerted to the vehicle. An X-ray then revealed six bundles of cocaine concealed in false compartments behind the car’s fenders.2The Arizona Republic. Phoenix Woman Tries to Smuggle $134,000 in Cocaine Over Border The cocaine weighed roughly 13 pounds, with an estimated street value of $134,000.3U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Lukeville CBP Officers Seize $134K Cocaine Officers seized the drugs and the vehicle. A passenger traveling with her was not arrested.
The Federal Charges
Pikula was initially charged by federal criminal complaint with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.4Fox 10 Phoenix. Cocaine Found in Overly Talkative Woman’s Car at Border On August 12, 2015, a federal grand jury returned a broader indictment adding three more counts:5San Antonio Express-News. Arizona Model Who Allegedly Flirted With Border Agent Indicted
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
- Possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Conspiracy to import cocaine
- Importation of cocaine
The conspiracy and importation counts signaled that prosecutors did not believe she was acting alone. She was released on a $5,000 bond.5San Antonio Express-News. Arizona Model Who Allegedly Flirted With Border Agent Indicted
The quantity carried serious exposure. Thirteen pounds is about 5.9 kilograms, above the five-kilogram threshold that triggers enhanced federal trafficking penalties. For a first offense at that level, federal law provides for a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life.
Background
Pikula was a Phoenix resident described in some reports as an Arizona model who documented her international travels on social media.5San Antonio Express-News. Arizona Model Who Allegedly Flirted With Border Agent Indicted She had received U.S. citizenship in April 2015, just months before her arrest. In December 2010 she had filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, listing more than $100,000 in debt; that filing was dismissed the following year.6Daily Mail. The Glamorous Photos of Bankrupt Drug Mule Busted Flirting With Border Officers No prior criminal history was reported in the coverage of her arrest.