Dutch woman, 19, in ICE detention after trying to smuggle 76kg of ketamine into U.S.

A 19-year-old Dutch woman is in an ICE detention center after she was caught trying to smuggle 76 kilograms of ketamine into the United States in October, RTV Oost reported.

According to the broadcaster, the young woman from the Overijssel village of De Krim was arrested at Dallas airport in October along with a man from Manchester, United Kingdom. The two attempted to smuggle suitcases full of ketamine into the country.

During interrogations, the Dutch woman told the authorities that she traveled by train to Paris and flew from there to Dallas. She said she met up with a friend in Paris, during which her suitcase was allegedly swapped.

The woman said she knew she was transporting trugs, but only realized the quantity of the drugs when customs officers in Dallas opened her suitcases. She said she was promised €30,000 for the “Texas job.” Her clients also paid for her plane ticket.

Drug smuggling carries a prison sentence of 10 to 99 years in Texas, where Dallas is located. According to RTV Oost, the woman made a deal with the Texas authorities, agreeing to a 4-month prison sentence, which she had already served in pre-trial detention.

But as the woman is registered as an undocumented immigrant in the United States, she was transferred to the detention center of immigration service ICE in Prairieland on March 9. It is unclear when she will return to the Nehtelrands.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs told NU.nl that it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.