Man Caught Smuggling Cocaine Under Wig at Colombian Airport
Man Caught Smuggling Cocaine Under Wig at Colombian Airport
Authorities at Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena, Colombia, have arrested a 40-year-old man who attempted to smuggle 19 capsules of cocaine hidden under a wig. The suspect was preparing to board a flight to Amsterdam when security officers noticed his suspicious behavior.
According to Colombian Anti-Narcotics Police, the man appeared nervous, prompting them to conduct a closer inspection. Officers quickly realized that his wig sat unnaturally high on his head, raising further suspicion. A thorough search revealed that he had attached the drug-filled capsules directly to his scalp, concealed beneath the artificial hairpiece.
Security Footage Reveals Smuggling Attempt
Authorities released footage showing officers carefully removing the wig, revealing the illicit cargo taped to the man’s head. The seized cocaine weighed more than 220 grams and had an estimated street value of £8,296. This amount could have been distributed into over 400 doses, making it a significant find for anti-narcotics officials.
Colombian police confirmed that the man has a criminal record, including two previous drug trafficking charges. Following his arrest, he was handed over to the country’s Attorney General’s Office for further legal proceedings.
Colombia’s Ongoing Crackdown on Drug Trafficking
Brigadier General Gelver Yecid Peña Araque, a senior official in Colombia’s Anti-Narcotics Police, emphasized that authorities remain vigilant in their fight against drug smuggling. So far in 2025, over 450 people have been arrested for drug-related offenses at airports, with more than 115 kilograms of narcotics seized.
Colombia, known as one of the world’s largest cocaine producers, has long been a key focus of international drug enforcement agencies. Smugglers have resorted to increasingly bizarre methods to evade capture, including ingesting drug capsules, hiding substances in luggage compartments, and even surgically implanting narcotics inside their bodies.
This latest case highlights the risks traffickers take in their attempts to move illicit substances across borders. However, with heightened security measures and ongoing intelligence operations, authorities continue to crack down on the global drug trade.
