Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (APA) – Two Tanzanians, aged 27 and 32 years old, who were arrested and accused of concealing drugs inside their stomachs died in Addis Ababa after the drugs burst in their stomach, the Ethiopian police said here on Monday.
The two were arrested at the Addis Ababa international airport two weeks ago and were receiving medical treatment at the Hayat Police hospital in Addis Ababa.
The Tanzanians, who were arrested separately, were said to be traveling from Tanzania to China and China to Tanzania respectively.
One of them was arrested while he collapsed on board the aircraft that he was traveling in, while the other was arrested after inspection at the airport customs.
Police said that the two were undergoing medical treatment during the past two weeks.
“The two died as some of the capsules burst into their stomachs. More than 42 drug capsules were found in the stomach of one of them who was traveling from China to Tanzania on Ethiopian Airlines,” said the police.
From the other Tanzanian who was traveling from Tanzania to China, the police say some 17 drug capsules were taken out of his stomach through surgical treatment.
According to the police, both individuals were trying to smuggle heroin prepared in the form of capsules.
The police say the bodies of the two Tanzanians were sent on Sunday to their country through the collaboration of the Tanzanian embassy in Addis Ababa.