Investigators unravel "drugs in rugs" plot 18/02/2008 00:00

The Civil Guard has arrested two people for their involvement in the smuggling of heroin in a consignment of Asian rugs.

18 February 2008

MADRID - The Civil Guard has arrested a 36-year-old man, identified as M. G. A., and one of his neighbours in Utrera, Seville, for their involvement in the smuggling of eight kg of heroin in a consignment of Asian rugs.

In a statement issued Friday, the Civil Guard explained that they had been notified by Belgian airport customs of carpets containing heroin on a flight from Kabul, Afghanistan via Brussels. The carpets were due to be couriered to Seville.

Posing as employees of the courier company, Civil Guard officers went to the intended receiver's address. After asking the man to show his identity card and sign for the delivery, they arrested him. The heroin had been planted in each carpet inside narrow tubes disguised as threads, which had been weaved in the opposite direction to the rest of the rug.

[Copyright EL PAÍS 2008]

Subject: Spanish news