Karen Petula Stuffle, a 36-year-old woman from Guyana, has been arrested at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka for attempting to smuggle a significant consignment of cocaine, marking her second drug-related arrest.
Stuffle was previously caught at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana on September 9, 2018, with 1.14 kg of cocaine. Following her arrest, she was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $2.3 million.
This latest incident occurred on August 27, 2025, when Stuffle arrived on Qatar Airways flight QR638 from Doha at approximately 2:30 AM. Acting on a tip-off, customs officials were prepared for her arrival. Upon landing, Stuffle was identified at seat 30 and went through the immigration process before her baggage was scanned.
Inspection of her luggage revealed three plastic jars containing several foil-wrapped capsules. In total, 22 egg-shaped capsules were recovered, and initial tests by the Department of Narcotics Control confirmed the substance to be cocaine. The haul weighed 8.66 kg, with an estimated street value of Tk 1.3 billion (approximately US$10.6 million), marking it as the largest cocaine seizure at the Dhaka airport to date.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the case, as Stuffle faces serious charges that could lead to significant penalties in Bangladesh.
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