In a joint operation at Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic, authorities apprehended a 29-year-old Nigerian man with Italian nationality who attempted to smuggle drugs to Paris, France, by ingesting them. The arrest was conducted by agents from the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD), along with members of the Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESAC) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The DNCD announced in a statement on Thursday, August 15, 2024, that the suspect was intercepted in the terminal’s boarding area. During routine checks, foreign bodies were detected in his digestive tract, prompting immediate transfer to a local health center. There, medical professionals supervised the extraction of the concealed substances.
A total of 72 pellets, believed to contain cocaine, were recovered from the man’s stomach. The seized substance weighed approximately 1.361 kilograms (2.99 pounds).
The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the DNCD have initiated an investigation to identify potential accomplices in this international drug trafficking attempt. The suspect is being transferred to the Permanent Care jurisdiction of La Altagracia province for further legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the 72 pellets have been sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for detailed analysis to confirm the substance’s composition.
Peoplesmind