BELGRADE: Serbian Customs directorate has announced that it found nearly 8.5 kilograms of cocaine in the luggage of a 26-year-old Brazilian man.
The drugs were discovered at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla International on Thursday afternoon, and represent the largest amount confiscated at the airport so far.
The man arrived in Belgrade from Sao Paolo via Zurich, and, according to the Customs, “seem like a student who in no way stood out from other passengers.” He also carried “a brand new passport.”
“Fortunately,” a Customs statement continued, “international exchange of intelligence data pointed out that this was in fact a potential drug trafficker. ”
This was the reason he was stopped and his luggage searched in details, it is added.
“The young Brazilian was not nervous, and did not look as if he was under the influence of sedatives, but was very composed and calmly accepted the search,” said the Customs, explaining that although the initial scan showed nothing suspicious, the drugs were eventually discovered in “professionally sealed bags taped with special indigo that can trick scanners.”
A total of 8,331 grams of cocaine were found in seven packages. The suspect and the drugs have been handed over the police unit SBPOK, the Customs said, and added:
“In a statement made at the scene, the young man first said he thought he was carrying three kilograms of drugs, to then change his statement and say he did not know what was in the bags and that he accepted to carry them for a friend.”
The Serbian state prosecutor and the Brazilian embassy in Belgrade have been informed about the case.
