Colombian drug-smuggling pigeon captured

Police in Colombia have captured a drug-smuggling pigeon being used by inmates at a prison to transport their stash.

The pigeon was en route to a prison in Bucaramanga, in the country's north-east, before it was caught carrying 45 grams of marijuana attached to its body.

General Jose Angel Mendoza, Commander of Bucaramanga Metropolitan Police said: "This is a new case of criminal ingenuity. They were trying to smuggle drugs into Bucaramanga prison by using messenger pigeons."

"We found the bird about a block away from the prison trying to fly over with a package, but due to the excess weight it was impossible for the bird to accomplish the objective and it ended up being caught by the police," he added.

Police have confirmed that carrier pigeons have also been used to transport mobile phone sim cards to inmates in the past.