Hard act to swallow: Airport scan of the Irish holidaymaker who tried to sneak back one KILO of cocaine from Brazil in his belly

By Damien Gayle

Last updated at 4:46 PM on 16th September 2011

A young Irishman is contemplating spending the next decade and a half in jail after he tried to sneak past Brazilian customs with a kilo of cocaine hidden in his guts.
The 20-year-old holidaymaker, identified only as P.B.B., was stopped as he tried to board a flight back to Europe from Sao Paolo's Congonhas airport.
He had somehow managed to stuff 72 bags, containing almost a kilo of coke with a street value of up to 150,000 euros, down his throat, according to police.

Stuffed: A 20-year-old Irishman was caught by Brazilian customs trying to smuggle nearly a kilo of cocaine out of the country and back to Europe

Border security became suspicious after the man appeared to be nervous as he arrived at the departures gate last Monday, the Irish Independent reported.
He was taken to the nearby Santa Misericordia Hospital where scans confirmed the presence of the suspect packages in his intestines.

 

Brazilian prosecutors have now charged him with international drug trafficking, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years.
About five people are arrested every day trying to smuggle drugs through Congonhas airport, which connects to 53 countries.

Narcotics hub: About five people are arrested trying to smuggle drugs through Sao Paolo's Congonhas Airport every day

It is notorious as a major exit point for drug mules bringing cocaine from South America to the rest of the world.
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs told TheJournal.ie they were aware of reports on the case, but as yet had received no request for consular assistance.
The Brazilian penal system is slow, and it could be up to six months before the young man appears in court.

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