X-ray anomalies helped German customs officials crack a daring ketamine smuggling operation. A bumper haul of the drug was found stuffed inside a troop of fancily decorated outdoor figurines at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
https://p.dw.com/p/59joaAn official shows some of the white powder discovered inside the gnomesImage: dpa/picture allianceAdvertisementGermany's customs agency on Tuesday revealed that a sizable seizure of the drug ketamine was made at Cologne/Bonn Airport when an otherwise innocent-looking decoy object drew suspicion.
Some 25 kilograms (about 55 pounds) of the widely misused anesthetic was found squirreled away inside five bushy-bearded garden gnomes that had been painted gold.
The haul — worth about €1 million ($1.16 million) — was discovered about a month ago in four parcels bound for Canada and Australia. Suspicion was aroused when X-ray images revealed something highly irregular about the innocuous-looking ornaments.
"Clear alterations to the feet of the unpacked golden garden gnomes led my colleagues to a total of around 25 kilograms of concealed ketamine," said Jens Ahland, spokesperson for the Cologne main customs office.
In a separate case last week involving the same drug, officers stopped a Dutch taxi on the A3 motorway heading toward Frankfurt. At a service area near the town of Siegburg, both the driver and a 36-year-old passenger were checked.
After giving conflicting statements about his travel route and purpose, the British passenger's luggage was searched. He attempted to flee but was caught after a short chase. Officers found 30 vacuum-sealed bags filled with white crystalline powder, wrapped in gift paper and hidden among clothing in his suitcases.
The street value of the drugs seized in the two operations is put at about €2.3 million.
