The General Authority of Customs (GAC) has foiled an attempt to smuggle 7.25kg of the illicit drug, cocaine, through Hamad International Airport (HIA).

The contraband was detected after two bags belonging to a traveller arriving from a Latin American country raised the suspicion of a Customs inspector at HIA, according to a GAC statement.

The luggage was handed over to another inspector for a thorough search. It was then found that the passenger had hidden cocaine in secret pockets inside the luggage.

The contraband was packed in the two bags in the same fashion.

GAC president Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Jammal later honoured the two Customs employees who managed to foil the cocaine smuggling bid through HIA.

He praised the efficiency and alertness of the employees for detecting the cocaine in the passenger's luggage and stressed that the GAC would witness significant developments at all levels due to its efforts to protect the Qatari society and national economy.

In the statement, the GAC said it seeks to foil any attempt to smuggle illegal drugs into the State through equipping all land, air and sea outlets with sophisticated devices. Moreover, Customs officials receive getting continuous training to enhance their skills and performance.