Well-travelled man had 53 reasons for sudden collapse
A Polish man who flew into Miami International Airport from Trinidad and collapsed before he could catch his onward flight to Finland had 53 reasons for feeling unwell, surgeons discovered.
They found 53 bags of cocaine in his stomach, with a total weight exceeding half a kilogram.
Waldemar Wojtczak, 45, nearly died from ingesting the narcotics, police told Washington news outlet McClatchy DC. Surgeons handed the pellet-sized bags over to Miami-Dade narcotics detectives, who were waiting near the operating theatre at Hialeah Hospital.
Cocaine-filled rubber bags allegedly ingested by man who collapsed at Miami International Airport.
Wojtczak woke after his operation to be charged with cocaine trafficking and using commercial transport while committing a felony.
Unable to speak or understand English, he used a Polish interpreter at his arraignment.
He pleaded not guilty.
Written by Peter Needham