Colombian police are hunting for the father of an 11-year-old girl, who was captured smuggling 500g of drugs in her stomach.

Police said the girl, who was hiding more than 100 capsules destined for Europe, is the country's youngest ever drug mule.

The girl, who has not been named, is recovering in hospital under armed guard in the western city of Cali following an operation to remove the drugs.

Cali police commander Hoover Penilla said: "She is out of surgery after 104 capsules were removed, which at the moment are being tested to determine what illegal drug it was.

"All the signs suggest that ... she was being used in this twisted way by adults."

The girl's parents are separated and, according to her mother, had been staying with her father over the weekend.

When she returned feeling unwell, the mother rushed her to hospital where the capsules were discovered.

The whereabouts of the father are unknown.

Colombia, alongside Peru, is known as one of the world's top exporters of cocaine.