Africa-Press – Mozambique. A citizen of Brazilian nationality was arrested at Mavalane International Airport this Monday (20-09) in possession of 4.2 kilograms of a cocaine-type drug. The drug was in small packages, disguised as chocolate candy.
Introduced to the press, the 36-year-old citizen said that he did not know that the bag contained drugs, as it was given to him by a friend who said that it was a gift for his mother, and that someone would be at the airport to pick it up.
The man apologised to the Mozambican people and said that it was the first time he had visited Mozambique, and that he had intended to stay as a tourist for 14 days.
The man is not the first Brazilian citizen to be caught trying to smuggle drugs through Maputo International Airport. In June 2019, 24-year-old Ariane Monteiro de Aragão was arrested with 5.4 kilograms of cocaine, also disguised as candy.
She was later sentenced in Maputo to 17 years in jail.
Since the beginning of the year, the Tax Authority, in coordination with the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, has seized around 481 kilograms of various drugs.
