Turkish authorities find cocaine in Maradona paintings at Istanbul Airport

Turkish customs officials seized 2.6 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside paintings carried by a passenger of late Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona at Istanbul Airport, Daily Sabah newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Officials became alarmed after noticing the unusually dense paintings carried by a 72-year-old German national of Croatian origin, who arrived at the airport from Colombia, it said.

Officials conducted an X-ray scan of the passenger’s luggage, later removing the backs of the paintings to discover cocaine tucked into small plates, according to the newspaper.

Cocaine worth 2 million liras ($261,000) was hidden in the back of a dozen paintings.

Turkish police have detained the suspect and an investigation has been launched into the incident.