65 ingested cocaine sachets retrieved from Brazilian tourist

• The contraband was retrieved at Negombo  Hospital

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama 

Customs Director and Acting Spokesman Lal Weerakoon said by yesterday, 65 out of 95 cocaine sachets had been retrieved from the stomach of the Brazilian female tourist (50) who was arrested last Saturday at BIA. 

The contraband was retrieved at Negombo  Hospital under the supervision of Customs officials. 

The suspect who arrived from Doha on Qatar Airways flight QR664 was nabbed by the Customs while attempting to smuggle in a stock of cocaine worth more than Rs.10 million by swallowing it. 

“We face difficulty in communicating with the suspect due to the language barrier. She refuses to take food. She had swallowed pellets containing the drug in small quantities of five to seven grammes. 52 sachets were retrieved by Saturday morning. The suspect will be detained at the hospital until all narcotic pellets are retrieved,” Mr. Weerakoon said, adding that the suspect was handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) last Saturday for further inquiries.   

The suspect had swallowed pellets containing the drug in small quantities of 5 to 7 grammes