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Pregnant woman had cocaine worth €100,000 in underwear

A pregnant woman was arrested with 75 packs of cocaine stashed in her underwear in Vienna’s Meidling district on Sunday.

Published: 13 October 2016 09:59 CEST

Pregnant woman had cocaine worth €100,000 in underwear

The packs of cocaine. Photo: LPD Police

Police say the 25-year-old woman was carrying exactly 866.4 grams of cocaine, with a street value of more than €100,000.

Officers noticed the woman, originally from Nigeria, was behaving strangely at Meidling train station early on Sunday morning. They questioned her but she wouldn’t tell them who she was or what she was doing and they then took her to hospital. A search of her clothes revealed the drugs, concealed in her bra and knickers.

The woman would not admit that she was a drug courier or dealer, and did not tell police where the cocaine came from. The only thing she would say is that she was given the drugs by a man who was between “50 and 100 years old”, police spokesman Roman Hahslinger said. She is being held in police custody.

There have been a number of fights recently between North and West African drug dealers around the Meidling train station, which is why officers are now more active in the area and are regularly stopping and searching suspects.

UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible 'threat' to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Vienna police confirmed they are investigating a non-specified threat to the Donau Zentrum shopping centre, located in the Austrian capital’s 22nd district, a spokesperson told The Local.

On Monday, pictures of an alleged internal document sent by the shopping centre to tenants circulated on social media and messaging apps. The document stated there was a “threat against the Westfield Donau Zentrum for April 30, 2024”. It stated that the authorities had been working to identify suspects since yesterday.

“The source of the threat is a photo circulating online”, the statement said without giving further details. “If we receive additional information or specifications, we will immediately inform you”, it added.

“There is currently no reason for you as an employee to worry as we are strictly following police guidelines”, the document said. It was signed by a manager of the shopping centre. The Local reached out to Donau Zentrum media representatives, who confirmed a threat against the centre.

“The Center Management of Westfield Donau Zentrum can confirm a threat against the center and is in ongoing communication with the relevant authorities. We are taking the situation seriously. The safety of everyone in the center is our top priority. After coordination with the authorities, the center will be open as usual today”, they said.

The Vienna police confirmed the veracity of the statement and added, “We are aware of the matter and are investigating,” they replied after an inquiry on their official social media channels. The Local reached out to the press office for further clarification but has not yet received a response.

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