A man traveling from Colombia to Amsterdam was caught with 220 grams of cocaine concealed in his wig.
The man wore a toupee, which police say was glued to his head. He planned to fly to Amsterdam from Cartagena, but police stopped him first.
They cut the wig off, revealing 19 cocaine blocks. A video shows the arrest at the airport. Officers, noticing the scan, took off his glued wig, and it showed white powder packets. Police said it was cocaine and seized about 220 grams.
The police arrested him. He is from Pereira, Colombia. They accuse him of drug crimes and mention his past. He has two prior drug charges.
A police chief, Gelver Yecid Peña Araque, spoke about the arrests. They have arrested over 450 people this year for drug dealing, grabbing over 115 kilos of drugs, including cannabis and cocaine.
He said they fight criminal groups, those that cause violence and disrupt peace. He needs help from the community; they need tips to find criminals.
Police said the cocaine’s value was high, about €10,000 under the wig. He tried to board the plane with it.
The police chief said experts found him. They scanned him, then searched his body and found the wig’s cocaine that he wanted to take to Amsterdam. It was 220 grams meant for profit.
Criminals smuggle drugs from South and Central America to the US and Europe. They hid cocaine in cheese wheels before, destined for the US.
People have hidden drugs in various ways. They’ve hid drugs in dogs and koi fish, even using kids. Some used COVID masks, hiding cocaine inside.
Cartels use many ways, including tunnels and diplomatic pouches. Even submarines work for them to get drugs to other countries.