British and French women arrested on cocaine-trafficking charges

A British woman and a French woman have been arrested on drug trafficking charges in Brazil after authorities found 44 pounds of cocaine in their luggage as they tried to catch a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, police said today.

Cecilia Maximilia, a 36-year-old Briton, and 20-year-old Jennifer Salagnac of France were arrested yesterday after authorities using baggage x-ray machines detected the cocaine wrapped in grease-lined packages inside false bottoms installed in their luggage, said federal police inspector Mauro Montenegro.