(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

JPD: Washington state woman arrested at Juneau airport with about $100K of illegal drugs

38-year-old suspect confronted by police Thursday moring after her arrival from Seattle

A woman traveling from Seattle was arrested at Juneau International Airport on Thursday on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs with a street value of about $100,000, according to the Juneau Police Department.

Denise K. Nelson, 38, a resident of Washington state, was confronted by members of the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a JPD information release. The release states illegal drugs were found “in a pet carrier, her carryon bag and on the female’s person.”

The drugs included 433 grams of blue fentanyl pills imprinted M/30 with an estimated street value of $80,000, 136 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $15,000 and two grams of powdered narcotics with an unstated value, according to JPD.

Nelson was arrested on one count of second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance (a class A felony), one count of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance (a class B felony), and one count of fifth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance (a class A misdemeanor). She was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center.

She had a felony first appearance on the three charges Friday at the Juneau Courthouse, according to the Alaska Court System online database. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Aug. 26.

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