A 20-year-old Brazilian woman has been arrested in Spain after police say she allegedly arrived at an airport carrying 69 packages of cocaine hidden inside different parts of her body.
The woman arrived at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport on Sept. 14 and reportedly drew the attention of Spanish police because she appeared visibly nervous during a selective passenger check. Officers from Spain’s national drug enforcement unit separated her from other passengers and questioned her.
The woman told police she was pregnant and was carrying packaged narcotics inside her body. Officers reportedly recovered 16 packages that had been concealed in her genital area. She voluntarily expelled those packages, and testing showed they contained cocaine.
The woman was then taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. During the examination, investigators reportedly discovered another 53 packages hidden inside her body, bringing the total to 69. Authorities said the packages had been specially shaped to make them easier to insert into the body.
The case has raised concerns because of the risks involved in carrying narcotics internally. Police arranged for the woman to receive medical attention before proceeding with her arrest.
Authorities arrested the woman on allegations related to crimes against public health. The investigation was based on the discovery of the packages and their subsequent testing for cocaine.
The woman has not been publicly identified in the reports. Details about whether she was actually pregnant and further information about her alleged role in the drug-smuggling operation have not been made public.
The incident happened at one of Spain’s busiest airports and illustrates the lengths drug traffickers may allegedly go to when attempting to move narcotics across international borders. Spanish authorities continue to process the case following the woman's arrest.