Colombian police have detained two women at Bogota airport, both attempting to enter the country concealing $12,000 in their private parts, local media reported Monday.
According to newspaper El Espectador, a Colombian woman, aged 37, and a Mexican, aged 22, both had wrapped the sums of money inside a condom and inserted in into their genitals. Officials discovered that the Mexican woman had made 40 visits to Colombia, each visit between 4 – 6 days.
Furthermore, their luggage contained $10,000 and $9,500 respectively, the amount customs authorities allow you to enter the country with without a declaration.
The director of tax and customs police “POLFA” stated that the authorities are working on the assumption that the money is payment from Mexican drug cartels to Colombian drug traffickers, according to El Espectador.
“This has to be linked undoubtedly to drug trafficking, there is no other explanation for the issue.”
According to Elespectador, the operation was conducted by the Colombian authorities with the cooperation of the US agency for immigration and customs enforcement. In addition to collaborating with foreign authorities, the POLFA has strengthened its surveillance in El Dorado to avoid repeating instances like that of the Mexican woman.
In 2013 to date, authorities have arrested 13 women including 7 Mexicans, 5 Colombians and a Brazilian, all of which have attempted to enter money into the country illgally.