A 29-year-old Nigerian man with Italian nationality was arrested in a joint operation at Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic for taking drugs and attempting to smuggle them to Paris, France.
The arrest was carried out by investigators from the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) and members of the Specialised Airport Security Unit (CESAC), in coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The suspect was arrested in the boarding area of the terminal, the department said in a statement on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
When examined as per standard protocol, a foreign body was found in his digestive tract.
He was immediately transferred to a local health center where a specialized doctor supervised the extraction process of the hidden substance.
Medical experts found a total of 72 pills believed to contain cocaine in the man’s stomach, with the substance seized weighing approximately 1.361 kilograms (2.99 pounds).
The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the DNCD have launched an investigation to determine whether other individuals were involved in the thwarted international drug trafficking operation.
Meanwhile, the foreigner will be transferred to the Permanent Custody Jurisdiction in the province of La Altagracia for further legal proceedings.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the 72 bags have been sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for detailed analysis and confirmation of the composition of the substances.
