QCOSTARICA – Nerves got the better of an Italian tourist in Costa Rica, found carrying some 370.55 grams of cocaine on his person, at the San Jose airport, ingested to avoid detection.
According to the Minsiterio de Seguridad Publica (MSP), the detection was made when the man, due to extreme nervousness when approached by officials of the Policia Control de Drogas (PCD) – Costa Rica’s drug enforcement police – began to vomit, expelling the first ovule, leading authorities to suspect more.
In total, and eight hours later, 64 ovules containing the illegal drugs were recovered, says the MPS bulletin.
According to immigration records, the Italian entered Costa Rica on July 22 by way of Sixaola, the border crossing with Panama. On Friday, the man was headed on a flight to Panama, for his connecting flight to Amsterdam.
The 49 year-old Italian tourist identified by the last name of Mencaroni faces charges of international drug trafficking and may be a permanent guest of Costa Rica for the next 15 years.
