The two “heavy-set” men were attempting money laundering

Sep 17, 2012 12:17 GMT  ·  By

Two men, one Colombian and one Venezuelan were detained in a Colombian airport, getting off a flight from Costa Rica. After an X-ray scan was performed, the presence of unusual capsules in the men's stomachs was revealed.

According to iAfrica.com, the 2 men were apprehended in the Colombian city of Medellin. X-ray scans showed the presence of 40 capsules, each containing around $1,000 (€763) in cash, in their abdominal area.

The suspects were 35-40 year-old “heavy-set” Caucasian men. They caught the attention of airport security officials after one of them appeared agitated and nervous. Officers asked the man to pass through the scanner one more time, and discovered that the contents of his stomach included the suspicious capsules.

The men were detained separately and questioned but, so far, no information has been provided about the duo's intentions or final destination.

Custom officials in Colombia have detained many drug “mules,” but this is the first time they catch “money mules.”

Wikipedia defines a money mule as “a person who transfers stolen money or merchandise from one country to another, either in person, through a courier service, or electronically.”

Wilson Patino, regional immigration director for the state of Antioquia in northwestern Colombia, stated he had never come across a similar situation.

“This type of money laundering activity is new in Colombia,” he said.

Contraband narcotics are often smuggled by men and women that ingest capsules containing drugs that can severely damage their intestines if the capsules break.

Police link this attempt at money laundering to drug trafficking groups and organized crime cartels.

No details about how the cash was recovered by airport security have been revealed so far.