VALLETTA – A 46-year-old woman from Curaçao has been sentenced to eleven years in prison in Malta and fined 25,000 euros for smuggling over two kilos of cocaine.
Anuschka Arlette H. had various drug packages attached to her abdomen and was caught nearly two years ago at the international airport of the island.
The Curaçaoan, who resides in Den Helder, pleaded guilty to avoid a jury trial. Initially, she had maintained her innocence.
She attempted to get more than two kilos of cocaine into the island from Brussels. On November 22, 2021, H. was found to have numerous gray packages affixed to her abdomen.
Authorities had received a tip that a female passenger on the flight was carrying drugs.
The police decided to perform a body search on her. The special anti-drug unit then discovered the drugs. It turned out that it consisted of 44% cocaine, mixed with a veterinary deworming medicine, and was valued at over €130,000 according to Maltese justice.
With her guilty plea, the Curaçaoan, who told the court she worked as a cleaner, may have avoided a life sentence.