ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has arrested a U.S. national suspected of smuggling 5.2-kg of cocaine in transit from Sao Paulo, Brazil to India via Ethiopia.
The reported cocaine was seized at the East African country's main international hub at the Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) quoted officials at the Ethiopian Ministry of Customs as saying late Monday.
According to the ministry, the illegal drug was being smuggled by a U.S. national in an Ethiopian Airlines flight that was en route from Brazil's Sao Paulo to India.
The ministry, noting that illicit trade and contraband activities threaten the East African country's sovereignty and disrupts the social life of the community, also urged the public to alert law enforcement officials in the face of such illegal activities.
On Saturday, the Ethiopian government had also disclosed the arrest of five Brazilian nationals in connection with an alleged attempt to smuggle about 47.4 kg of cocaine to different countries via Ethiopia.
The reported amount of cocaine was seized at the Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa late on Friday, according to FBC.
