Authorities in Brazil have opened a full-scale investigation after a 20-year-old woman died suddenly while travelling on a long-distance bus, only for paramedics to discover 26 iPhones strapped directly to her body in what appears to be a botched smuggling attempt.
The tragic incident occurred during a bus journey from Foz do Iguaçu, a city bordering Paraguay and Argentina, to São Paulo, one of Brazil’s major commercial hubs.
According to multiple Brazilian media reports and the Daily Mail, the woman began experiencing medical complications while the bus made a routine stop at a roadside restaurant in Guarapuava, located in the central region of Paraná State.
Emergency responders from Brazil’s Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) were called to the scene after the woman reportedly complained of breathing difficulties. She was initially alert but struggling to breathe. Moments later, her condition worsened as she appeared to suffer a seizure and went into respiratory arrest.
“Paramedics attempted to revive her for 45 minutes,” officials stated, “but she was declared dead at the scene.”
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While administering aid, medics noticed strange bulges on the woman’s body. Upon further inspection, they found multiple packages tightly strapped and glued to her torso. Authorities later confirmed that 26 brand-new iPhones were affixed directly to her skin.
The Military Police were immediately alerted, and both forensic teams and civil investigators were dispatched to the scene. A sniffer dog brought in to search her belongings did not detect any traces of narcotics. However, police found and seized several bottles of alcohol in her luggage, which may also form part of the ongoing investigation.
The Paraná Civil Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway. Forensic reports are expected to provide more insight into the exact cause of death, including whether the woman’s death was linked to the iPhones strapped to her body, a pre-existing medical condition, or other external factors.
“The 26 cell phones that were glued to her body were seized and sent to the Federal Revenue Service for analysis and further action,” police officials stated.
As of the time of this report, the woman’s identity has not been disclosed, and no known family members have come forward. She was reportedly travelling alone and may have been unknowingly or unwillingly involved in an illegal smuggling operation.
Foz do Iguaçu is a notorious entry point for contraband electronics smuggled from Paraguay into Brazil, where import duties and electronic prices are significantly higher. Criminal networks often employ mules—individuals paid or coerced into transporting illegal goods—posing serious health and legal risks.
While no drugs were found in this particular case, authorities are not ruling out the possibility that the woman was working as a mule for smuggled electronics.
The Paraná Civil Police and federal agencies continue to investigate both the circumstances surrounding her death and the potential criminal network behind the smuggling effort. Officials are awaiting the results of forensic tests to determine whether heat exposure, pressure from the tightly-bound phones, alcohol consumption, or other factors contributed to her death.
