Drug traffickers caught smuggling cocaine inside portraits of football legend Maradona in Istanbul

Customs officers in Istanbul Airport confiscated 2.65 kilograms of cocaine stashed inside portraits of legendary Argentinian soccer player Diego Armando Maradona. The cocaine that was confiscated is reportedly worth more than two million Turkish Liras.

Wednesday December 23 2020 01:42 pm

Duvar English

Customs officers in Istanbul Airport recovered 2.65 kilos of cocaine hidden in portraits of legendary Argentinian soccer player Diego Armando Maradona, local agencies reported on Dec. 23.

Worth around two million Turkish Liras, the massive quantity of cocaine belonged to a 72-year-old Croatian national identified only as M.R.

The traveler hid thin sheets of cocaine inside the paintings and was caught when the artwork was scanned in an x-ray machine.

While M.R. was detained on the spot, the criminal investigation is reportedly ongoing.

Meanwhile, social media users noted that Maradona was known for struggling with cocaine use himself, and said that M.R. was 'honoring' the legendary player.