Authorities in Brazil have opened an investigation after a 20-year-old woman died unexpectedly while on a long-distance bus, with dozens of iPhones found attached to her body.
The incident happened while travelling from Foz do Iguaçu to São Paulo, as reported by the Daily Mail.
According to accounts, the young woman began to experience health issues as the bus was making a scheduled stop at a roadside eatery in Guarapuava, Paraná State’s central region.
When the woman apparently complained of breathing issues, emergency services were contacted. Responders from the Mobile Emergency Care Service treated her on the site.
“She was treated by Mobile Emergency Care Service workers, who said she was awake but struggling to breathe. Shortly afterwards, she began to show signs of respiratory distress and appeared to suffer a seizure.”
Despite efforts to resuscitate her, which lasted for 45 minutes, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Paramedics attempted to revive her for 45 minutes, but she was declared dead at the scene.”
While delivering aid, medics observed strange bulges on her body and discovered multiple parcels strapped to her flesh; a closer check revealed a total of 26 iPhones glued to her torso.
“It was while trying to treat her that medics noticed several packages attached to her body. Police later discovered 26 iPhones had been glued directly to her skin.”
The Military Police responded to the discovery by contacting forensic and civil investigators. A sniffer dog brought in to search her possessions found no narcotics, but officers did recover several bottles of alcohol from her suitcase.
“A sniffer dog did not detect any drugs on the woman, but several bottles of alcohol were found in her luggage and seized.”
The Paraná Civil Police reported that investigations are ongoing, with forensic tests being conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death.
“The Paraná Civil Police are investigating the case and awaiting the conclusion of forensic reports to clarify the cause of death.”
“According to preliminary information, the woman, who was alone, was travelling from Foz do Iguaçu to São Paulo.”
“The 26 cell iphones that were glued to her body were seized and sent to the Federal Revenue Service.”
Her identity has yet to be revealed to the public, and the reason for the attempted smuggling remains unknown.