VANCOUVER, Nov. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - On November 6, the Canada Border
Services Agency (CBSA) Airside and Special Enforcement Operations
(ASEO) intercepted a traveller at Vancouver International Airport (VIA)
carrying 51 pellets of suspected heroin internally.
The female traveller was questioned by CBSA officers upon her return to
Canada. During examination, the officers determined that the traveller
may have ingested narcotics as a means to smuggle them into the
country. She was immediately arrested and escorted to the hospital,
where it was discovered that she had both ingested and inserted
pellets. Subsequent X-rays taken at the hospital revealed a blockage,
and the traveller had to undergo emergency surgery. A total of 51
pellets - condoms containing suspected heroin - were expelled or
recovered. Physicians said that without medical attention the traveller
would have died.
This is the third internal drug carrier intercepted at VIA in three
days. On November 4, two travellers were taken to hospital and had to
undergo emergency surgery because pellets containing suspected
methamphetamine had been poorly packaged and were leaking inside their
bodies.
"Ingesting narcotics to evade detection is a practice that is extremely
dangerous for the courier, regardless of how well the pellets are
wrapped - it is a life threatening situation that requires immediate
medical intervention," said Nicole Goodman, Chief of Operations for the
Airside & Special Enforcement Operations, Vancouver International
Airport District. "As a result of this week's interceptions, CBSA
officers have not only delivered on our mandate, they also helped to
save the lives of three individuals who put their lives at risk for the
smuggling of illicit substances".
Image with caption: "CBSA intercepted a traveller at Vancouver International Airport carrying 51 pellets of 'suspected heroin' internally. (CNW Group/Canada Border Services Agency (BC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121110_C6909_PHOTO_EN_20478.jpg
Image with caption: "This is one of the 51 pellets recovered at the hospital. (CNW Group/Canada Border Services Agency (BC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121110_C6909_PHOTO_EN_20480.jpg
SOURCE: Canada Border Services Agency (BC)