Tabitha Leah Ritchie, Canadian woman, arrested after wearing fake baby bump to smuggle drugs from Colombia, police say
(CBS/AP) BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombian police say they have arrested a Toronto woman who wore a fake pregnancy belly to smuggle cocaine.
Col. Esteban Arias says 28-year-old Tabitha Leah Ritchie was stopped while trying to board an Air Canada flight in Bogota after an inspector noted that her belly was unusually cold and hard.
He says police discovered a false belly made of latex taped to her body and they found 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of cocaine.
Police say Ritchie arrived in Colombia on Aug. 6 and he identified her as a social worker.
The Canadian Embassy did not respond to requests for details.
Officials say 874 foreigners are held in Colombian lockups, mostly on drug charges.
Colombian newspaper La Vanguardia reports, if convicted, the woman could face five to ten years in prison in Colombia.
