MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti) – A Colombian national was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport carrying a batch of cocaine dissolved in wine, Russia’s customs service said Thursday.
Customs officials inspecting the man’s luggage upon his arrival on Sunday spotted a sealed plastic bag with liquid that smelled strongly like wine.
“The man explained that he came from Paris and brought some wine from Colombia for him and his friend to celebrate Christmas. A snap chemical test revealed that cocaine was dissolved in that wine,” the Federal Customs Service said in a statement.
The suspected drug courier faces up to seven years in prison.
The customs service said the entire weight of the package was three kilograms (6.6 pounds), but it did not say how much cocaine was found.
Penalties for drug-related crimes in Russia