Drug dealers busted smuggling Manolo Blahniks made out of cocaine
A ring of Colombian drug smugglers were busted for shipping fake Manolo Blahniks made out of cocaine. Yes, it took us a moment to process that too. Basically they mixed the drug with a liquid until it turned into a paste. Then they molded it into the shape of a high heel, painted them to look like real Manolos, and shipped them off to Barcelona. Once the shoes reached their destination they were broken down into their original powder form and given to dealers.
According to the New York Post, this particular cartel has been running their scam for two years, and six members were finally caught by Spanish police in Barcelona with nine pairs of cocaine "Manolos" totaling $630,000. If you thought designer heels were expensive, these drug-laced stilettos were on another level. Instead of $755 a pair (which is the price of the jeweled Satin d'Orsay Manolo Blahniks above), the cocaine shoes were valued $70,000 a pair.
Two of the smugglers tried to escape but eventually were arrested after a high-speed car chase, along with the leaders of the trafficking scheme: a 34-year-old man and his 24-year-old wife. The Colombian couple lived in Spain and were overseeing the entire operation. Apparently many smugglers have used the technique in the past to disguise drugs as sculptures, a plaster cast on a man's broken leg, and a 42-piece tea set. As much as we're glad these people will be prosecuted for moving massive amounts of illegal substances, we have to give the couple a little credit for their creative Manolo Blahnik scheme. We have a feeling the wife came up with the idea after watching too much "Sex and the City."
Related links:
Anderson Learns How to Say 'Manolo Blahnik'
Manolo's Shoe Picks For College Grads, Tall Women, and Newly Single Gals
Dangerous high heels: Women's shoes reach hazardous heights during the recession
