A foreign woman was caught at Pudong airport trying to smuggle in 10 kilograms of cocaine — using suitcases made of cocaine and other materials — the city's customs said yesterday.
Cocaine was allegedly mixed into the suitcases using an injection molding technique, a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting material into a mold, according to the authority.
This is the first time such a smuggling method has been discovered in China, though a recent case has been reported in Germany.
The authority declined to release the nationality of the suspect, but said she was from a southeastern Asian country and had arrived in Shanghai on February 15 via a flight from South America.
According to the authority, the officers found the suspect's flight and exits and entries records matched characteristics of "high risks" passengers.
Officers examined the suspect's two suitcases with machines and X-ray images showed them to appear darker than normal suitcases.
The suitcases were emptied and re-examined. The empty suitcases were much heavier than normal luggage, so much so that a young male officer could not hold one of the cases in one hand, the authority said.
The officers then took samples of the suspected suitcases, which were found to be positive in tests for cocaine.
