This image released by Schiphol Airport customs in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, shows a dead bug containing cocaine. Drug smugglers have enlisted bugs to sneak cocaine into the Netherlands, a customs spokesman of Schiphol airport said. When an alert customs officer took a close look at a consignment of more than 100 large, dead bugs sent from Peru to the Netherlands, he discovered that cocaine had been stashed in their backs.The insects were carrying only 300 grams (10.5 ounces) of cocaine, worth about 8,000 euro ($11,300), customs spokesman Kees Nanninga said. The discovery was made over the summer during routine checks at a postal sorting office but only publicized today. (AP Photo/ Schiphol customs, HO)
Smugglers Try to Use Bugs As Drug Mules
2007-10-04 17:30:02
The Associated Press
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — As drug mules, bugs don't carry much. And they didn't get by customs in the Netherlands. A customs officer who took a close look at a consignment of more than 100 large, dead bugs sent from Peru to the Netherlands discovered cocaine had been stashed in their backs.
"We see a lot of things, but this was a first for us," customs spokesman Kees Nanninga said Thursday.
"It looked like they were cut open, the drugs hidden in their backs and then they were glued back together again," he said.
The insects held only about 10 ounces of cocaine, worth about $11,000, Nanninga said.
The discovery was made this summer in a routine check at a postal sorting office, but was made public Thursday. Nanninga said he did not know if anyone was prosecuted as a result of the find.
