Pubdate: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2001 San Jose Mercury News Contact: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390 Author: Joseph Altman Jr. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) PROFESSOR DIES WHILE TRYING TO SMUGGLE DRUGS IN HIS BODY DETROIT -- A Wayne State University law professor described as a brilliant scholar died in Canada, where doctors surgically removed a dozen cocaine-filled balloons from his body after one burst during a trans-Atlantic flight, authorities said. Gennady M. Danilenko, 45, died Wednesday in Newfoundland. He was on Northwest Airlines Flight 47 from Amsterdam to Detroit on Sunday when he fell ill with what initially appeared to be a heart attack. The flight was diverted to Goose Bay, Newfoundland, where doctors performed emergency surgery and discovered the drugs. The substance was confirmed to be cocaine, Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman Susan Feld said. The death was ruled an accidental drug overdose, said Cpl. Trudy McCabe of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At least one of the balloons appeared to have burst in his stomach. Staff and students at Wayne State were shocked by the death and the drug-smuggling allegations. According to Wayne State's Web site, Danilenko had also taught at the University of California-Berkeley and the University of San Diego. - --- MAP posted-by: GD