Ecuadorean passenger arrested with 700 grams of cocaine

CAIRO - 6 September 2017: The General Administration for Drug Control at Cairo International Airport, in coordination with the customs authorities, foiled an attempt by an Ecuadorian passenger to smuggle 700 grams of cocaine into the country.

The Ecuadorian, who was on an Ethiopian plane coming from Addis Ababa, placed some of the cocaine in his socks and the rest were discovered inside capsules in his stomach.

Sources at the Cairo Airport said that upon searching him, 60 grams of cocaine were found inside his socks, and then he felt pain in his stomach and admitted swallowing the cocaine capsules. He was taken to a hospital where the 62 capsules of cocaine were found.

Several similar smuggling incidents have also taken place previously at the airport. Passengers were arrested at the airport while smuggling cocaine, jewelry, or other prohibited items into or out of the country.

Last July, an American passenger was arrested at Cairo airport over charges of trying to smuggle gold and diamond jewelry worth LE 2 million into the country.