COLOMBIA: TWO SPANISH CITIZENS AND ONE ISRAELI ARRESTED FOR COCAINE SMUGGLING.

Record ID: 400305

  • Title: COLOMBIA: TWO SPANISH CITIZENS AND ONE ISRAELI ARRESTED FOR COCAINE SMUGGLING.
  • Date: 2nd September 2002
  • Summary: (W1) BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (SEPTEMBER 1, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV/CU: ARRESTED SPANISH CITIZENS; SPANIARDS HAND-CUFFED (6 SHOTS) 0.31 2. MV/CU: POLICE POKING BAGGAGE (2 SHOTS) 0.40 3. MV/TILT UP: SPANISH CITIZENS AND THEIR BAGGAGE 0.45 4. MCU: POLICE CONDUCT PURITY TEST ON CONFISCATED DRUG 0.49 5. GV/PAN: SPANIARDS W
  • Embargoed: 17th September 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Reuters ID: LVACYF6WQB2Q7EAAI413IKZP8347
  • Story Text: Colombian police have arrested two Spanish citizens and
    one Israeli when the three tried to leave the country carrying
    up to 15 kilograms of cocaine.



    Two Spanish citizens and one Israeli were trying to
    smuggle 15 kilograms of pure cocaine out of the country,
    authorities informed. They were arrested at Bogota
    International Airport.

    Airport police chief, colonel Omar Gonzalez, told Reuters
    that the Spanish citizens carried 14 kilos of cocaine in a
    false compartment in their luggage. The Israeli was caught in
    possession of one kilogram of the drug stashed in his carry-on
    luggage, Gonzalez said.

    The three detainees were presented to the press along with
    the illegal substance they tried to take out of Colombia. The
    South American country has stepped up surveillance at all
    ports of exit to prevent the substance from being illegally
    smuggled out of the country.

    "In the case of the Israeli citizen, he was arrested for
    trying to smuggle one kilogram of cocaine that he was carrying
    in his carry on luggage and in the case of the Spanish
    citizens, they were carrying 14 kilograms of cocaine hidden in
    a false compartment in their luggage," colonel Gonzalez said.

    The Spaniards were to board a plane bound from Bogota to
    Barcelona.

    This is the third time this year that an Israeli citizen
    is arrested for trafficking with cocaine. Year to date, a
    total of 41 foreigners have been arrested for the same
    offence.

    The number of foreigner arrested in Colombia for drug
    trafficking has increased considerable since last year, when
    just 10 foreigners were caught trying to smuggle cocaine out
    of the country.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register