Cocaine hidden in crafts seized at Mexico City airport
Original reporting: El Diario de Juárez
What happened
Mexican customs and Navy personnel said they found 8.64 kilograms of freebase cocaine in 20 fiberglass crafts carried in a passenger’s checked luggage from Lima.
Reporting and context
Mexican customs agents and Navy personnel seized 8.640 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside fiberglass handicrafts in the checked luggage of a passenger arriving from Lima, Peru, authorities said Tuesday.
According to El Diario de Juárez, the shipment was discovered during an inspection at Mexico City International Airport’s customs facility. The National Customs Agency of Mexico and the Navy said officials found 20 fiberglass crafts with irregularities inside them. Each piece contained one plastic bag filled with white powder, for a total of 20 bags. The discovery was made during a routine review of the passenger’s checked baggage.
El Diario de Juárez reported that the substance tested positive as freebase cocaine using Gemini nonintrusive inspection equipment. The cocaine was secured and turned over to the appropriate authorities while investigators determine the passenger’s legal status. The case concerns one airport seizure; the report does not identify the passenger or announce charges.