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.