Drug mule's stomach bleeds after swallowing bullets!

A PARAGUAYAN male drug mule faces a health scare.

A 43-year-old male suspected drug mule, arrested at OR Tambo International Airport from Paraguay, had to be rushed to hospital following health complications. He was arrested on Sunday, 6 October, by the police after landing from Sao Paulo.

This follows a medical examination that revealed he had swallowed more than 20 bullets suspected to contain cocaine.

According to Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosiliki, the operation to release the drugs from the man's stomach has been suspended due to health complications.

"Every time, after more than a hundred bullets came out, he started bleeding. So, every time a bullet came out, it came out with traces of blood, which is an indication there is a medical challenge inside the stomach," Mosiliki said.

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She said this indicates that those who take the risk of swallowing drugs pose severe danger to their health.

"The risk is that it might rupture. You might have a rupture within or the possibility of bullets being... They can explode. It's an instant life loss that happens. So, it is dangerous to swallow these bullets, especially in recent days, the numbers that we're detecting here at OR Tambo and other ports of entry when these mules are arrested."

Mosiliki said the mules have refrained from using baggage and resorted to swallowing bullets.

"I've been informed that the bullet size is almost 10g, which is huge for a person to consume. It's a dangerous exercise, and is discouraged in all respects because it's a medical issue that no one can stop when it happens."

Mosiliki further revealed that the suspect has so far released 117 suspected cocaine bullets.