Juice Wrld had reportedly been on the feds’ radar since last month. According to TMZ, Custom Agents searched the late rapper’s plane on a flight bound for Sydney, Australia at Los Angeles International Airport on November 18.
Law enforcement sources said drug-sniffing dogs were allowed on the plane, but it’s unclear if they discovered anything in Juice Wrld’s possession. Considering he was ultimately allowed to take off, it’s unlikely.
However, the Chicago-bred artist was reportedly being monitored ever since.
Homeland Security agents, who were operating under an FBI task force, searched Juice Wrld’s private jet when it landed at Chicago’s Midway Airport on Sunday morning (December 8).
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In an effort to conceal them from police, Juice Wrld allegedly swallowed several Percocet pills. He later collapsed and went into a seizure. He was pronounced dead around 3:06 a.m. local time at a nearby hospital.
Authorities discovered 70 pounds of marijuana, three guns and a bottle of codeine on the plane. Two of Juice Wrld’s security guards, Christopher Long and Henry Dean, were arrested on weapons charges. They have since been released.
The Cook County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Monday (December 9) but several other tests need to be conducted before an official cause of death can be determined.
[This article has been updated. The following was published on December 9, 2019.]
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The sudden death of 21-year-old rapper Juice Wrld sent shockwaves throughout the Hip Hop community on Sunday (December 8).
While his official cause of death has yet to been determined, TMZ reports several people aboard Juice’s private jet told investigators he took multiple “unknown pills” prior to the fatal seizure at Chicago’s Midway Airport.
They also said he was struggling with an addiction to the powerful painkiller Percocet. Investigators discovered a bottle of codeine cough syrup on the plane as well. Of course, Juice — who had just turned 21 on December 2 — had previously admitted to struggling with an addiction to lean.
But that wasn’t all investigators found. The FBI seized roughly 70 pounds of marijuana that was stashed in several suitcases. Two of Juice’s guards who were on the plane, Christopher Long and Henry Dean, were also arrested on weapon charges.
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According to the Chicago Tribune, Dean was charged with carrying a concealed firearm at an airport and possessing a high-capacity magazine and metal-piercing bullets, while Long was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Only one of the guards had a valid permit to carry guns in Illinois, but it’s still illegal to possess them at airports.
In total, three guns were confiscated. Dean and Long are both of out jail and due in court later this month.
Prior to Juice’s death, he appeared to be in good spirits. Video of the flight shows the Chi-Town native messing around with his friends and laughing.
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As the plane beings to descend, everyone is all smiles until they finally touchdown at Midway. Juice collapsed shortly after while walking through the airport. When emergency responders arrived on the scene, he was reportedly bleeding from the mouth and still conscious. However, he was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at the hospital.
The Cook County Medical Examiner is expected to conduct an autopsy on Monday (December 9).
