The Mexican National Security Commission has reported that police sniffer dogs detected 38 kg of cocaine in the baggage of a patient about to board an air ambulance plane in Baja California at the start of November. Seven people were arrested at Tijuana International Airport. The Learjet had been due to fly a cancer patient to New York, US, with a stop in El Paso, Texas, en route.

A ground ambulance approached the plane, carrying two female paramedics and the patient, along with three suitcases. Federal agents inspected the cases and found a total of 38 one-kilo packages of white powder, presumed to be cocaine. Sniffer dogs were then brought in, which reacted when presented with the packages, confirming the agents’ suspicions.

The aircraft’s crew of one pilot, a co-pilot and two flight paramedics were arrested, along with the two paramedics from the ground ambulance and the patient