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Cocaine hidden in lollipops
08/10/2007 23:01 - (SA)
Madrid - Police in Spain said on Monday they had arrested 13 people who extracted cocaine smuggled into the country in sofa covers and lollipops at three clandestine laboratories.
The 13 used chemicals to remove the narcotics from the lollipops and fabric in which it was hidden in order to escape the attention of customs agents, police chief Joan Mesquida told a news conference.
They were from Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica and Venezuela and were arrested between October 1 and 3, police said.
Police also seized 35kg of cocaine and three tons of chemicals as part of their operation.
The laboratories had the capacity to extract 5kg of cocaine per day. Two were located in the Madrid region while the third was in the central city of Toledo.
Spain, with its historic and linguistic links to South America, is the main entry point to Europe for cocaine from the continent, mostly from Colombia.
Spanish authorities seized an average of 39 tons of cocaine, mainly from Colombia, annually between 2001 and 2005.
According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration it is the highest haul for any European country.
- AFP
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