TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Thai national was arrested at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport attempting to smuggle marijuana hidden in her checked luggage.

The 27-year-old woman was reportedly recruited by a drug trafficking group due to her family’s financial difficulties, per Liberty Times. Posing as a tourist, she was instructed to bring cannabis concealed in her luggage, but was intercepted by airport police immediately after landing.

Chang Tsung-lung (張驄瀧), a squad chief in the Aviation Police Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division, said that during an X-ray scan on June 3, officers detected irregularities in her luggage. Inspection revealed 26 packages of marijuana hidden inside.

Chang said traffickers often use the “fake tourism, real smuggling” method to lure vulnerable individuals. Aviation police and Taipei Customs said they will continue to strengthen border inspections to prevent drug smuggling.

Police emphasized that transporting category 2 narcotics carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment or a minimum 10-year sentence, along with a fine of up to NT$15 million (US$460,000). The case has been transferred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for further investigation under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.