Costa Rican police on Tuesday arrested an Italian man as he attempted to board a flight to Italy with 101 cocaine-filled capsules in his stomach, authorities said.
The 31-year-old suspect, surnamed Manzini, was arrested at the Juan SantamarÃa International Airport, outside of San José, as he tried to board a flight to Venice, Italy.
He was taken under custody to a local hospital, where X-rays revealed latex capsules containing 432 grams of cocaine, according to Costa Rica’s Public Security Ministry.
Manzini had entered Costa Rica on March 18, and was accompanied by an Italian woman who was not arrested. He could face up to 15 years in prison on charges of international drug trafficking.
Last year, Costa Rica’s anti-drug police arrested 135 alleged traffickers at the country’s airports.
