Colombia arrests fake nuns with drugs in their habits Published duration 7 May 2013

media caption The island of San Andres is part of a drug trafficking route across the Caribbean

Three women dressed like nuns have been arrested at a Colombian airport allegedly smuggling drugs.

Police said the women, aged 20, 32 and 37 had two kilos (4.4lb) of cocaine each strapped to their bodies.

Officers said they became suspicious because the women "didn't look like nuns" and their habits "didn't look right".

They were travelling from the capital Bogota to the island of San Andres, popular with holidaymakers.

Police Capt Oscar Davila said they appeared nervous, and the fabric of their habits did not match that of genuine nuns.

The three, who according to police broke into tears when the cocaine was discovered strapped to their legs, will be charged with drug smuggling.

They reportedly said they had been forced into drug trafficking because of "financial hardship".

The Colombian island of San Andres, just off the coast of Nicaragua, is a popular destination for foreign and Colombian tourists alike.