In Bogota, Colombia, law enforcement officers detained a 40-year-old man who was trying to transport cocaine cleverly concealed under a toupee.
The incident took place at Cartagena’s airport on a Monday when the suspect was about to board a flight to Amsterdam. Upon inspection, a scanner identified 220 grams of cocaine hidden in small bags strategically affixed beneath what police termed as a “narco wig.”
Authorities estimated that the street value of these drugs could reach up to 10,000 euros in European markets. A police video released on the same day showed an officer in blue gloves carefully removing the wig with scissors, uncovering around a dozen packets of cocaine. It was noted that the suspect had a criminal history with two previous convictions related to drug trafficking.
The Cartagena Police Commander, Gen. Gelver Yesid Peña, highlighted how criminal organizations are manipulating young individuals by making them believe they can easily bypass airport security measures. He stated, “Organized crime groups are exploiting young people, falsely suggesting they can easily bypass our security measures,” adding that this incident disproves that notion.
Reports indicate that cocaine production in Colombia has been on the rise since 2013. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, the cultivation of coca bushes in Colombia saw a 10% increase in 2023, with potential cocaine output climbing by 53% compared to the previous year.
While a peace agreement in 2016 with the FARC rebels sought to reduce coca plant cultivation in rural regions, smaller armed factions have since stepped into the void left, actively perpetuating the profitable cocaine trade.
