A Japanese man who had ingested 246 bags of cocaine died on a flight from Mexico City.
The flight, bound for Japan’s Narita Airport, was diverted and made an emergency landing at Hermosillo Airport after the 42-year-old passenger complained of feeling unwell.
He had begun his journey in the Colombian capital of Bogota on Friday.
A statement by attorney general of Sonora identified the man as “Udo N” and said his death was due to cardiac arrest caused by a drug overdose. Local paper El Sol de Mexico reported his name as Satoshi Udo.
The bags of cocaine measured 2.5cm in length and 2cm wide and were located in his stomach and intestines.
The Japan Times writes that the man began having convulsive seizures shortly after take-off from the Mexican capital. After he was removed from the flight, the remaining 198 passengers continued their journey to Japan.
Mexico’s federal authorities will take over the investigation.