Guatemala: Man arrested for carrying US$47,200 in his intestines

By Dialogo
March 23, 2012

GUATEMALA CITY – Police arrested a man on March 23 who attempted to travel to Panama with US$47,200 in cash concealed in capsules hidden in his intestines.
Authorities detected the capsules inside Alberto Cayetano Pérez Laparra, 41, as he passed through the X-ray security machine at the La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala’s National Civilian Police said.
After being questioned by authorities, the man confessed to having the capsules inside his body as well as carrying US$4,001 in his pockets. He was sent to a hospital to have the capsules extracted.
Doctors found 59 capsules inside Pérez Laparra, each containing eight US$100 bills, amounting to US$47,200.
“This is a new method used by criminal gangs who launder money, using people’s bodies to hide money to avoid declaring it to the [Guatemalan tax authorities],” police said.

[AFP, 22/03/2012; Pnc.gob.gt (Guatemala), 22/03/2012]