Last Update:14 November 2024 19:55 IST

When Chicago O’Hare International Airport officials asked her about the drugs in her bag, the woman said, “Is that cheese?” he asked.

Authorities opened their bags and found cocaine wrapped in oil-soaked paper. (Representative Picture)

In a bizarre turn of events, 28-year-old British woman Kim Hall was arrested at Chicago O’Hare International Airport after 43 kg of cocaine worth over Rs 161 million on the black market was found in her luggage. . The incident raised questions about his involvement in drug trafficking, but Hall maintained his innocence, claiming he was unknowingly transporting drugs.

Hall, from Middlesbrough, England, was traveling from Mexico to London with a brief stopover in Chicago. During a routine security check, authorities opened their bags and found cocaine wrapped in oil-soaked paper. When asked about the contents of his bag, Hall said: “Is this cheese?” he reportedly asked. This discovery led to his arrest and he was immediately charged with drug trafficking.

According to Hall, he was forced to carry the bags by two people he knew from a previous trip to Portugal. He claims they invited him to Mexico for a free vacation, but when it was time to leave, they threatened him at gunpoint. Hall claims that the duo gave him the bags and told him that they contained around 25 lakh rupees in cash. Fearing for her life and having her passport confiscated, the woman reluctantly agreed to carry the bags, unaware that they contained illegal drugs.

“I am not a drug trafficker and I will prove my innocence,” Hall told authorities after his arrest. “I thought it was something edible, like cheese, but I had no idea it was a drug.” He added that he did not suspect any problem because he trusted the people who gave him the bags.

Hall’s arrest took place on August 18 and he has been detained in the US since then; If convicted, he could face up to 60 years in prison. A trial date has not yet been set as U.S. authorities continue to investigate the case. Hall’s mother reportedly screamed in shock when she heard the news, while Hall himself expressed disbelief and asked if the death penalty was still a possibility. “I thought they were going to let me go and I would be coming home soon,” he said.

Although Hall’s defense rests on the claim that he was deceived and threatened, the case highlights the ongoing problem of drug smuggling at airports around the world. Similar cases are regularly reported, including at airports in India, where travelers are often caught trying to smuggle illegal substances.