Ivory Coast Woman Arrested At Thai Airport With 1.2kg Of Cocaine

A 27-year-old woman from the Ivory Coast has been arrested on the Thai island of Phuket after an airport X-ray found more than 1kg of cocaine in her stomach wrapped in scores of small packets.

The woman was stopped by officials late on Wednesday night at Phuket's international airport after landing on a flight from Doha. An X-ray revealed more than 60 small packages in her stomach, filled with 1.2kg of cocaine, according to Sirinya Sitdhichai, secretary-general of Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board.

The drugs were likely bound for wealthy clients in Bangkok, he added. "Unlike methamphetamine, cocaine and ice (crystal meth) are for a very niche group of rich customers," he told AFP.