Woman Arrested at Rio’s Galeão Airport With 3.2 Kg of Cocaine

Overview

• Federal agents at Galeão airport discovered 3.2 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the structure of a checked suitcase while the passenger prepared to fly, police said.
• The 26-year-old woman, who is natural of Fortaleza, was arrested in flagrante and taken to the Cadeia Pública José Frederico Marques to await a custody hearing.
• Police said the passenger planned to travel to Bangkok with a scheduled stop in Amsterdam before reaching her final destination.
• The seized suitcase was confiscated for forensic examination to establish evidence and chain of custody for prosecution.
• Authorities will charge her with international drug trafficking, a crime that carries penalties of up to 25 years in prison, and the case underlines how Brazilian international airports can be used as transit points for cocaine exports.