Police in Colombia apprehended a man attempting to smuggle cocaine under a wig as he tried to board a flight from Cartagena to Amsterdam. The incident occurred on February 20 at the Cartagena airport, where officers from the Anti-Narcotics Police noticed suspicious behavior during routine security checks.
The suspect, a 40-year-old Colombian man from Pereira, was found with 19 capsules of cocaine hidden beneath a wig. Authorities confirmed that the capsules contained over 220 grams of the drug, with an estimated street value of $10,000.
In a statement, Cartagena police explained: “Through surveillance and passenger profiling, officials from the National Police identified and arrested the suspect. The cocaine was concealed in capsules hidden under a wig.” The drugs were confirmed using the Approved Preliminary Identification Test (PIPH), which returned positive results for cocaine.
According to investigators, the man planned to deliver the narcotics to Amsterdam. Police estimate the seized cocaine could have been divided into more than 400 doses, disrupting a significant portion of international drug trafficking operations.
Officials also revealed that the man has two prior criminal records related to drug trafficking. He has now been handed over to the Attorney General’s Office and is facing charges for the trafficking, manufacture, and possession of narcotic substances.
Brigadier General Gelver Yecid Peña Araque, commander of the Metropolitan Police of Cartagena, highlighted the wider impact of such arrests. “This year alone, over 450 individuals have been arrested for drug-related offenses,” he said. “These efforts strike hard at criminal networks that not only traffic drugs but also fuel violence and unrest.”
The case echoes a major bust in the UK last December, when authorities intercepted £200 million worth of cocaine hidden in a banana shipment. That operation led to the conviction of five men, including ringleader Petko Zhutev, who received a 27-year prison sentence.
Authorities continue to urge the public to support their efforts by sharing information that can help track and stop criminal activity.
