Man Who Died on Aer Lingus Flight Had 80 Drug-Filled Pellets in His Stomach

The Irish Times is reporting that Irish police have started their investigation after an autopsy confirmed that Brazilian man John Kennedy Santos Gurjao had 0.8 kg of drugs - authorities suspect it is cocaine - in his stomach in 80 wrapped pellets. Santos Gurjao became ill on the Aer Lingus flight when one of the pellets burst in his stomach. Santos Gurjao bit another passenger and was restrained before dying on the aircraft. If toxicology results confirm authorities' suspicions of cocaine, the estimated street value of the drugs in Santos Gurjao's stomach is €56,000, or about $64,000.

A 44-year-old Portuguese woman, who other passengers said Santos Gurjao was with at the airport, was also arrested when police found 1.8 kg of white powder in her luggage. She claimed that the powder in her luggage, however, was baking soda and her claim was confirmed by after a state laboratory analysed the powder. Latest reports state she remains under question.

The Irish Times has been doing a ton of great reporting on this story. Find more of it on their website:

• Witness recounts death of man on board Aer Lingus flight
• Postmortem due on man who died on Aer Lingus flight