A Brazilian woman has been arrested on arrival at Zagreb airport after swallowing 76 capsules containing altogether nearly one kilogram of cocaine, the police reported on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old woman arrived in Zagreb on October 3 from Sao Paulo via Lisbon.

During a regular customs check using an X-ray machine, a large amount of illegal substance was found in her digestive tract, after which she was taken to hospital for medical treatment. In the hospital, it was found that she was carrying a total of 76 capsules filled with cocaine which she had previously swallowed in Brazil.

After the investigation, the suspect has been handed over to prison while criminal charges are being prepared by the state prosecutor, the police said.

This is the third time in the past three months that a Brazilian national has been arrested at Zagreb airport in an attempt to smuggle cocaine into the country.