Drug smugglers caught at airport

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

What appeared to be a routine arrival at Bahrain International Airport turned into a major drug bust after customs officers intercepted two passengers carrying narcotics concealed inside luggage.

According to court records, the incident began when a customs officer monitoring X-ray scans noticed irregularities in two suitcases on the baggage conveyor belt.

The bags, belonging to a man and a woman arriving from an Asian country, were flagged for inspection and directed to the red channel.

When asked if they had anything to declare, both passengers said no.

Search

A subsequent search revealed multiple sealed packages of dried fish and shrimp.

Authorities said the narcotics were carefully concealed in six transparent bags embedded within the seafood, in what investigators described as a deliberate attempt to evade detection.

Similar packages were found in the second suitcase, concealed among clothing and food items.

During questioning, the male defendant told investigators he had received the suitcase abroad and that he had been promised payment for delivering it to a contact in Bahrain.

Account

The woman gave a similar account, saying she had been asked to transport the bag and hand it over upon arrival.

Investigators later uncovered that a hotel room had been arranged for the pair, where the handover was expected to take place. Under police supervision, the suspects contacted the individual believed to be coordinating the operation.

The handler instructed them to photograph the suitcases and provided combination codes to open them.

Pair

He told the pair that someone would collect the bags from the hotel. No one arrived.

Instead, the suspects were told to leave the suitcases in the room, place the key nearby and return to the airport, where they were informed that tickets had been arranged for their departure.

Authorities later determined the tickets were fraudulent. Efforts to trace the handler were unsuccessful, and he ceased communication shortly afterwards.