Woman who ingested 78 packets of cocaine held in Turkey

ANTALYA, Turkey

A woman who swallowed 78 packages of cocaine -- weighing more than three quarters of a kilo -- has been arrested in Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Antalya, a security source said on Friday.

Antalya Police Department’s anti-narcotic branch learned the Venezuelan national was a suspected drug mule.

The 29-year-old had traveled to Antalya from Zurich, the source said, speaking anonymously.

She was stopped by Turkish security forces upon arrival at Antalya Airport and although police did not find drugs in her luggage, a hospital x-ray later revealed dozens of small parcels of cocaine in her stomach.

Each packet contained between 10-12 grams of cocaine.

The suspect has been sent to a local court, accused of drugs offences.

Reporting by Suleyman Elcin; Writing by Handan Kazanci;