'Drug mule' death inquiry

[bongme]

hi

15th May Wesneday 2002

The death of a suspected drug courier is to be investigated and will be supervised by the Police Complaints Authority.

A man, thought to be in his thirties, died at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, London, on Monday night.

It is believed he arrived on a flight from Jamaica on 6 May.

He went to hospital two days later saying he felt unwell and he had swallowed 20 wraps of cocaine.

Intensive care

Police were called to the hospital and arrested him for allegedly smuggling Class A drugs.

The man was co-operative to begin with but later became violent and had to be restrained, police said.

His condition deteriorated and he died after being taken into intensive care.

The Metropolitan Police referred the incident to the PCA as he had been arrested and the case was being treated as a death in custody.

Bongme