Buzz
Drug smuggling is an inherently perilous and high-stakes endeavor. Many individuals take this gamble, driven by the dream of striking it rich while evading capture. To achieve this, smugglers employ incredibly inventive methods, devising countless ways to sneak illicit substances across borders. Despite their creativity, Border Protection and Customs agencies work relentlessly to thwart these efforts. Here are the top 10 most ingenious drug smuggling attempts ever recorded.
10. Breast Implants
In February 2016, German border authorities detained a Colombian woman at Frankfurt Airport, arriving from Colombia. She was discovered with 1 kilogram of cocaine concealed within her breast implants. Fresh surgical scars beneath her breasts suggested recent surgery to implant the drugs. After her arrest, she was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors extracted two 500-gram packages of cocaine from her breasts.
The woman confessed to smuggling the drugs, explaining she was trying to support her three children in Colombia. She revealed that a Colombian doctor had surgically implanted the drugs into her breasts. German officials were stunned by this unprecedented method, with spokesperson Hans-Juergen Schmidt stating, “This is the first case in Germany where drugs have been smuggled in this manner.” The cocaine, valued at approximately 200,000 euros, was destined for Spain via Germany.
9. Inside a Burrito
In May 2016, Customs and Border Protection agents apprehended a 23-year-old woman from Nogales, Arizona, at the Port of Nogales. She was stopped for inspection while crossing the Morley Pedestrian Gate, where officers discovered a white substance concealed within a tortilla, disguised as a burrito. The substance was later identified as methamphetamine, leading to her arrest. The drugs weighed over a pound and had an estimated street value of $3,000.
While this was the first instance officers encountered drugs hidden in a burrito, they are no strangers to unusual smuggling methods. Just a day later, a 43-year-old Mexican national was arrested at the Nogales land crossing. During a vehicle inspection, officers uncovered nearly 24 pounds of cocaine and 10 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the trunk. The combined street value of the seized drugs was approximately $300,000.
8. Concealed in a Mr. Potato Head Toy
Mr. Potato Head, a beloved children’s toy consisting of a plastic potato with attachable body parts, is enjoyed by kids worldwide. However, in October 2007, this innocent toy was exploited for drug smuggling. A package containing the toy was shipped from Ireland to Australia. When Australian border officials scanned the package, they were met with the cheerful face of Mr. Potato Head. Upon closer inspection, they found nearly 10.5 ounces of ecstasy wrapped in a plastic bag inside the toy.
The Australian Customs Service escalated the case to federal authorities, but no arrests were made since the drugs were mailed. Commenting on the incident, Karen Williams, Director of Post for Australian Customs, stated: “While this is one of the more unusual concealment methods we’ve encountered recently, people should know that Customs officers are vigilant against bizarre and creative smuggling attempts.” Australia enforces strict drug laws, with drug importation carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
7. Hidden Inside Fruit
Concealing drugs within food appears to be a recurring tactic among smugglers. In April 2017, nine individuals were arrested for smuggling cocaine inside fresh pineapples. A joint operation between Portuguese and Spanish police dismantled a drug trafficking network based in Portugal. The smugglers had been hollowing out pineapples and stuffing them with plastic bags of cocaine, a method they reportedly used undetected for months.
During the bust, authorities seized over 1,000 pineapples containing 745 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $22.4 million. After the case gained national attention, Spanish officials began intercepting similar shipments using identical concealment techniques.
6. Concealed Within Animals
In February 2006, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency apprehended 22 Colombian nationals for attempting to smuggle heroin into the United States. Authorities revealed that the suspects had surgically implanted the drugs into puppies to avoid detection. The group successfully transported over 20 kilograms of heroin by cutting open the puppies and inserting the drugs into their body cavities. Tragically, three puppies died due to complications from the procedure. The seized heroin had an estimated street value exceeding $20 million.
This concealment method mirrors how human drug mules operate. Drug mules, individuals who transport drugs across borders, often use various concealment techniques, such as swallowing drug-filled packages or undergoing surgical implantation. These methods are extremely hazardous, with thousands of drug mules dying annually from accidental overdoses.
5. Shaped Into a Cast
In March 2009, a 66-year-old Chilean man was detained at Barcelona Airport in Spain for attempting to smuggle cocaine. He tried to pass through customs using crutches, claiming to have a broken leg in a cast. Suspicious of the cast's appearance, Spanish authorities conducted an X-ray and discovered inconsistencies. Tests revealed the cast was made of a material that tested positive for cocaine.
Further inspection of the man’s luggage uncovered six beer cans and two hollowed-out stools, all containing cocaine. Medical examinations confirmed he had indeed broken his shin, leading investigators to believe he intentionally injured himself to use the cast for smuggling. In total, he was found with 11 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $500,000.
4. Concealed in a Submarine
In September 2019, a 40-foot-long submarine was intercepted in the Pacific Ocean by the U.S. Coast Guard and Colombian Naval forces. The vessel, en route to the United States, was found carrying 12,000 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $165 million. Four Colombian nationals aboard the submarine were arrested and charged with two counts each of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.
This smuggling tactic has grown in popularity in recent years. Submarines, which are costly to build, are typically used by high-level drug traffickers associated with cartels. In June 2018, the Coast Guard seized another submarine loaded with 17,000 pounds of cocaine. These were among 14 smuggling vessels intercepted that year, collectively carrying 39,000 pounds of cocaine and 933 pounds of marijuana, valued at over $569 million.
3. Hidden Within Art
In January 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted a snail statue shipped from Mexico to Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon inspection, officials discovered a plastic bag containing more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine inside the statue. The package was labeled as “Mexican stone crafts.” The drugs were valued at approximately $100,000, and no arrests have been made in the case to date.
Drugs can also be concealed within various forms of art, including paintings. In March 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted a crate containing eight religious paintings. Upon drilling into the frames, officials discovered they were filled with methamphetamine. A total of 9.2 pounds of the drug was found distributed across the paintings, with an estimated street value of $16,000.
2. Utilizing Drones
In recent years, the popularity of recreational drones has surged, leading smugglers to exploit them for transporting drugs across borders undetected. This has become a significant issue along the U.S.-Mexico border. The U.S. Department of Border Protection estimates that dozens of drones cross the border daily, carrying an unknown quantity of illegal substances.
In January 2018, a 25-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for using a drone to transport 13 pounds of methamphetamine across the San Diego-Tijuana border. Since then, over 500 individuals have been prosecuted for using drones to smuggle narcotics. The maximum penalty for such offenses in the U.S. is life imprisonment.
1. Attached to a Pigeon
In May 2017, Kuwaiti authorities captured a pigeon near the Abdali area, close to the Iraqi border, with a small backpack containing drugs attached to its back. The pigeon was carrying 178 ketamine pills, an anesthetic often misused as a recreational drug. Customs officials had prior intelligence about pigeons being used for drug smuggling, but this was the first instance where they successfully intercepted one in action.
While this marked the first time Iraqi officials seized a pigeon transporting narcotics, similar incidents have been reported elsewhere. In 2017, guards at a Brazilian prison discovered a pigeon carrying a mobile phone. Pigeons have been utilized since Roman times to deliver messages and small items, thanks to their natural homing instincts, which enable them to travel hundreds of kilometers efficiently.
