'Desperate' woman dies from leaked drugs

A lane of the M45 remained closed for police searches

Police believe a mother found dead beside a motorway died after packages of drugs she had swallowed leaked.

The woman, aged about 60, is thought to have been smuggling the 10 packets of white powder which were found inside her.

Northamptonshire Police are now investigating the woman's identity.

Her body was discovered facedown in the grass by workmen by the side of the westbound carriageway of the M45 in Northamptonshire on Wednesday.

Powder analysed

Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Cross said he did not know whether the woman had died at the motorway edge or whether she had been dumped there.

It is desperation. This woman died as a result of the ingestion of drugs

Chris Cross, Northamptonshire Police

He said on Thursday there were no marks of violence on the woman's body and there was no natural cause for her death.

"We believe her death at this stage to have resulted from the packages that were found within her body.

"These are currently being analysed but our current thinking is that one of these may have leaked inside her and the contents been the cause of her death.

Bright clothing

"This obviously paints a picture of a 60-year-old woman who has swallowed a number of packages to avoid detection.

Smugglers hide drugs in their bodies

"It is desperation. This woman died as a result of the ingestion of drugs.

"It is a possibility that she was trying to smuggle drugs into the country."

Police believe the woman died between 1800 BST on Monday and 0800 BST on Tuesday but was found a day later near Kilsby about three miles west of where the M45 joins the M1.

Toxicology tests were continuing on Thursday and one lane of the westbound carriageway of the motorway remains closed while police carry out further inquiries.

The National Criminal Intelligence Service has been called in to investigate the possibility the woman was in the process of smuggling drugs from abroad.

The woman was described as black, 5ft 3ins, with black hair, which had a gingery tint and was braided at the back and greying at the front.

She was wearing distinctive clothing, including a bright orange flimsy floral top, a layered black and pink skirt and black leather moccasin shoes.