BOGOTA: Thirteen suspected members of a drug ring that smuggled cocaine into Central America and Europe have been arrested in Colombia, the National Police said.
One of the suspects is an Australian citizen, officials said.
The arrests were made in different cities in Valle del Cauca, a province in southwestern Colombia, the National Police said in a statement.
The gang used “mules,” as drug couriers are known, to smuggle small amounts of cocaine out of Colombia via the airports in Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, and Bogota into France, Mexico and Honduras.
Mules swallow capsules filled with cocaine or smuggle containers packed with narcotics in their luggage aboard flights from South America.
The Australian arrested in the police operation was not identified.
A total of 129 foreigners and 255 Colombians who tried to smuggle cocaine, heroin and marijuana out of the country have been arrested this year, the National Police said, adding that most smugglers were heading to the Netherlands, Mexico and Canada.
Authorities have seized 1,381 kilos of cocaine, 51.3 kilos of heroin and 200 kilos of marijuana.
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