Authorities in the Dominican Republic arrested a 29-year-old Nigerian man, who also holds Italian nationality, at Punta Cana International Airport. The man was caught attempting to smuggle drugs to Paris, France, by ingesting them.

The arrest was made in a joint effort by agents from the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD), the Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESAC), and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The man was intercepted in the airport’s boarding area, where routine checks detected foreign objects inside his digestive tract.

He was immediately taken to a local medical center where doctors safely removed a total of 72 small bags from his stomach. The bags, believed to contain cocaine, weighed approximately 1.36 kilograms (about 3 pounds).

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine if the man was working alone or with others in this attempted drug trafficking operation. The seized substances have been sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for detailed analysis to confirm the contents.

As the investigation continues, the man is being transferred to the Permanent Care jurisdiction of La Altagracia province for legal proceedings. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat international drug smuggling.