Woman Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison After Trying To Smuggle 10 Kilograms Of Cocaine Into Suffolk: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Swedish woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison after attempting to smuggle 10 kilograms of cocaine into Suffolk County, District Attorney Ray Tierney said Friday.

Amanda Abrahamsson, 26, of Sweden, pleaded guilty in April to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance after acting as a drug courier by taking 10 kilograms of cocaine that had been shipped from California to Suffolk County via FedEx, Tierney said.

According to court documents and Abrahamsson's admissions during her guilty plea allocution, in August 2024, two packages containing individually wrapped kilograms of cocaine were shipped from California to Suffolk County through a FedEx facility.

The packages were intercepted by law enforcement after being flagged at the facility, the DA said.

During the investigation, law enforcement learned that a woman, later identified as Abrahamsson, went to a FedEx in Bohemia to inquire about the packages, Tierney said.

A woman also called FedEx to track the packages and provided a callback number, the DA said.

Law enforcement subsequently contacted the woman and arranged for the packages to be picked up at a Walgreens store in Patchogue, Tierney said.

On September 3, 2024, Abrahamsson arrived at the Walgreens, took possession of the packages from an undercover officer, and was immediately placed under arrest, Tierney said.

At the time of her arrest, she was in possession of two cellular telephones, one of which was used to communicate with both FedEx and law enforcement, the DA said.

Following the arrest, Abrahamsson provided investigators with a written confession, admitting to her role in the drug distribution, Tierney said.

On April 3, Abrahamsson pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A-I felony, before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei, the DA said.

On Friday, Justice Mazzei sentenced Abrahamsson to 10 years in prison, the DA said.

The United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer to deport Abrahamsson following her sentence, Tierney said.

She was represented by Jason Bassett, who was not immediately available for comment.

"This defendant came from outside of Suffolk County specifically to commit these crimes, believing she could slip in and out unnoticed," said Tierney. "She clearly underestimated the capability of the Suffolk County Police Department and our partners at Homeland Security Investigations to track her down and intercept these dangerous drugs before they hit our streets. Her arrest sends a clear message that we will continue to work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to keep Suffolk County safe from drug traffickers."