Ivory Coast Woman Who Swallowed Over 1kg Of Cocaine Held At Thai Airport

A 27-year-old woman from the Ivory Coast has been arrested on the Thai island of Phuket after an airport X-ray found more than 1kg of cocaine in her stomach wrapped in scores of small packets.

The woman was stopped by officials late on Wednesday ) night at Phuket's international airport after landing on a flight from Doha.

An X-ray revealed more than 60 small packages in her stomach, filled with 1.2kg of cocaine, according to Sirinya Sitdhichai, secretary-general of Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board.

The drugs were likely bound for wealthy clients in Bangkok, he added. "Unlike methamphetamine, cocaine and ice (crystal meth) are for a very niche group of rich customers," he told AFP.