Drug cartels have long been known for employing inventive schemes in order to successful transport their product across international borders. The latest example of their ingenuity is certainly no exception to their creative reputation.

Three women from Colombia had just arrived at the island resort destination of San Andres in the Caribbean, and something did not look quite right about them. They appeared to be uncomfortable and agitated, which is not necessarily out of the ordinary, but was made even more suspicious by their outfits.

The women were dressed as nuns. Known for their usually calm and stoic behavior, the odd appearance of the three nuns tipped off authorities, who soon searched the individuals.

"We could see they weren't religious, they weren't nuns. On the contrary, they were taking advantage of the situation to bring in around 6 kilos of cocaine," said Oscar Davila of the Colombian Judicial Police.

The women had 2 kilos (or a little over 4 pounds) each strapped to their legs, and hidden by the long black habits that are customary for nuns across the globe. Suspicion was also aroused when police noted that the fabric used for their garments was not the standard material used by nuns.

The women, ages 20, 32, and 37, were immediately apprehended by local officers and taken to jail. They will now face narcotic trafficking charges.

As soon as they were caught, all three women broke down into tears and talked of the financial hardship and intimidation they faced back in Colombia. They said that their cartel boss had forced them into wearing the religious garments to better bypass security detection.

San Andres Island is a vacation hot spot for many tourists from Colombia and many other countries near the Caribbean. In recent years, however, it has also became a hub for organized drug trafficking activity, and that trend does not appear to have slowed down.