More than 2kg of cocaine seized at Dubai airport

DUBAI // Customs officers foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 2 kilograms of cocaine into the country through Dubai International Airport, officials said today.

About 190 capsules of the drug holding 2.59kg of the drug, were found hidden in flour sacks in the suitcase of a businesswoman from unnamed African country.

The seizure occurred in the end of August, officials said.

The drugs were discovered after customs officials became suspicious of  the woman, who is in her mid-30s, after she passed through passport control acting nervous and hesitant.

Officers first X-rayed the woman's suitcase, then hand searched it and found the flour sacks.

"The woman had put the capsules in the flour bag to deceive custom officials but it did not work," said Ali Al Mugahwi, director of airport operations at Dubai Customs.

He attributed the bust to the customs officer's training and expertise in reading body language.

The woman told officers she was given the drugs at her point of departure,  an unnamed Asian country, and was asked to deliver them to an unidentified person in Dubai.

The woman has been referred to the anti-narcotics department at Dubai Police, which is continuing to investigate.

wissa@thenational.ae