Woman hid 2 kilos of cocaine in false hair braids
A woman, aged 24, hailing from Guyana, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison in Guadeloupe after attempting to smuggle two kilos (4.4 pounds) of cocaine concealed in false hair braids. Regional customs director Olivier Fouque disclosed that the woman was apprehended at an airport in March.
The cocaine was ingeniously hidden in “tubes concealed within false braids,” revealed the customs official. Along with the prison term, the woman also received a fine of 30,000 euros, although further specifics were not provided.
Fouque highlighted this incident as indicative of the evolving methods employed to transport drugs into France’s Caribbean islands, following the reinforcement of airport security measures.
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In the previous year, there were 47 instances of individuals being detained for smuggling cocaine and other substances in their stomachs, the official added.
This year, only “one or two” such cases have been reported. The enhanced checks on flights originating from Guyana, implemented in 2022, were extended to include Guadeloupe and Martinique as of March this year.
Fouque noted that approximately 30 individuals deemed suspicious have been denied boarding on flights departing from France’s Caribbean airports in the current year.
The efforts to combat drug trafficking remain ongoing to safeguard the region’s security and well-being.
