Brazilian authorities have launched a full investigation following the sudden death of a 20-year-old woman who was discovered with 26 iPhones taped to her body while traveling on a long-distance bus.

The tragic incident occurred during a journey from Foz do Iguaçu, a city near the tri-border area with Argentina and Paraguay, to São Paulo. The woman reportedly began experiencing severe health issues during a scheduled rest stop at a roadside restaurant in Guarapuava, located in central Paraná State.

Emergency medical responders were summoned to the scene after the young woman complained of breathing difficulties.

“She was awake but struggling to breathe. Soon after, she began showing signs of respiratory distress and appeared to suffer a seizure,” said a spokesperson from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU).

Despite 45 minutes of resuscitation efforts, paramedics were unable to save her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

iPhones Glued to Her Body

While administering aid, medics discovered suspicious bulges under her clothing. Further inspection revealed 26 iPhones meticulously glued directly to her torso, concealed beneath her garments. The Military Police were immediately called in and subsequently alerted forensic and civil investigators.

A sniffer dog deployed to examine her luggage found no trace of drugs, though several bottles of alcohol were discovered and seized. Authorities say no narcotics were detected on her person or in her bags.

The Paraná Civil Police confirmed that the woman had been traveling alone, and that forensic tests are underway to determine the exact cause of death. Her identity has not been publicly released.

“The case remains under investigation, and we are awaiting the results of the autopsy to clarify the cause of death,” a police spokesperson said.

The 26 iPhones have since been handed over to the Federal Revenue Service as part of the ongoing inquiry into what officials suspect may have been a smuggling attempt.

A Tragic End Amid Unanswered Questions

Foz do Iguaçu is known as a hotspot for illicit cross-border trade, given its proximity to Paraguay, a country with significantly lower electronics prices. The woman’s route has further fueled suspicions that she may have been acting as a mule for smartphone smuggling operations, though no official motive has been confirmed.

The cause of her respiratory failure and seizure is still unknown, but some experts suggest the tight wrapping of electronic devices to the body could have triggered complications, particularly if combined with heat exhaustion, alcohol, or stress.

As investigations continue, the incident has reignited concerns around human trafficking and smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable individuals, especially young women, for high-risk operations.

Authorities have urged anyone with information about the deceased or her possible connections to criminal networks to contact the Paraná Civil Police confidentially.