A female smuggler arrived at the Toronto International Airport Feb. 3, and was arrested on charges of smuggling diamonds into the country. The RCMP disclosed that more than 10,000 diamonds were found inside the body of 66-year-old Helena Freida Bodner, who arrived on a flight from Trinidad, but cannot confirm how the diamonds got into her body.
Bodner has been in custody for the last two weeks as the investigation continues. She appeared in court Feb. 21. She has since been remanded to appear again in March for smuggling diamonds into the country.
Investigators say it is not uncommon for carriers, or “mules” as they are called, to conceal contraband materials, such as drugs in body cavities. One method involves ingestion of condoms filled with materials.
Experts suggest that the 1,500 carats of diamonds, valued at close to $400,000, probably originated from nearby mining countries, such as Venezuela, Guyana or Brazil, as Trinidad has no diamond mines. They also suspect that the massive quantity of unpolished stones were destined for another country, for refining and resale on the black market.
