Saturday, police surprised a nervous-looking Italian man at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela, Costa Rica. It turns out he was attempt to smuggle cocaine out of the country by carrying it in his stomach.

This marks the 17th person to be caught muling drugs this year at the airport, said the Public Security Ministry.

Costa Rican Drug Control Police discovered that the man, who was attempting to leave the country, had swallowed cocaine-filled capsules.

 

The 54-year-old man was identified as having the last name of Avarello, 54, and police said he entered Costa Rica on January 24.

Avarello, who was traveling to Italy via Madrid, was sent to a medical center after tests revealed he was carrying the capsules inside his body, said the ministry press office.

Police monitored the man until he made the first “deposit” of nine cocaine-filled capsules, which were 32 centimeters long and 1 cm wide each, said public security officials, and each one weighed about 5.2 grams for a total first estimated amount of 47 grams.

Authorities said over the weekend they were awaiting another “deposit” by the Italian to make a final tally of the drugs he was attempting to smuggle inside his body.

The practice of muling drugs is very dangerous, as death is quite likely in the event one of the capsules should rupture.