Last Sunday, Israeli Police arrested three United Nations employees on suspicion of attempting to smuggle liquid cocaine into the country from Jordan, using fake components to make perfumes, according to local media reports.
During the inspection of the luggage of these individuals, who were working in Syria near the border with Israel, customs officials decided to check the contents of the numerous vials they were carrying, as it is a common practice among drug traffickers to dissolve cocaine in liquid to disguise it and then turn it back into powder.
Initially, suspicions were supported by the reaction of a drug-sniffing dog to the suitcases. Subsequently, a chemical analysis was carried out, which confirmed that at least one of the bottles contained liquid cocaine.
The suspects are currently in custody, and the Israel Northern District Police are in charge of the investigation.
The detection of liquid cocaine hidden in products such as perfumes is a strategy used by traffickers to circumvent security checks. By dissolving the drug in liquid, it avoids detection by scanners and is more effectively camouflaged. Subsequently, the liquid cocaine can be transformed back into powder once it has passed through the checkpoints.
This case highlights the importance of security and surveillance efforts at airports and borders to combat drug trafficking. Cooperation between authorities and dogs trained in the detection of illegal substances plays a key role in detecting this type of illicit activity. Investigations continue to determine the full details of this attempted smuggling of liquid cocaine and its possible connections to international drug trafficking networks.