National Guard (GN) seizes 17.7 kilos of heroin at Caracas international airport

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, June 02, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The National Guard (GN) Anti-Drugs Command has seized a total 17.7 kilos of allegedly high quality heroin at the Caracas (Simon Bolivar) international airport at Maiquetia. 

Anti-Drugs Division chief, General (GN) Jose Antonio Paez reports that 12.1 kilos were discovered hidden in a double seemed dresses that in a parcel on its way to new York. 

In a separate incident a 40-year old Venezuelan citizen was arrested allegedly attempting to transport 5.5 kilos of heroin in a 5-liter bottle of wine ... his flight was bound for the Dominican Republic.

Although most of last week's seizures were cocaine, narcotics control sources say they are pleased with successes at the airport, especially since the introduction of sniffer dogs.

The amount of arrests over the last few weeks is said to be the tip of the iceberg of what had been passing undetected through Venezuelan airports in small but significant quantities.