Body Packer Syndrome

Death from methamphetamine intoxication in a body stuffer

A 28-year-old man was admitted dead to the emergency department of the regional hospital. All resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful in this case. Attending officers stated that he was suspected of possessing drugs at the time of arrest and had taken them quickly to cover up. Upon arrival at the hospital, signs of violence were noted all over his body. During the autopsy, two large blue plastic packages were found in the antrum of the stomach. The first was 6.3 × 2.2 cm and had two tight knots, while the second was 7.6 x 1.7 cm and had a single knot. Both packages were irregularly shaped and contained tablet debris that was clearly leaking, as a large amount of gastric juice was present in both packages. A confirmatory forensic toxicology analysis revealed toxic concentrations of methamphetamine in the blood of the dissected case. The patient died of acute methamphetamine intoxication associated with a severe stress condition resulting from violent resistance during arrest.

The most practical diagnostic imaging for detecting body packers during the drug trafficking: Ultrasonography

INTRODUCTION

Body packing is one of the most common methods used in the transboundary trafficking of illicit drugs. These drugs are packaged in capsules and taken orally or inserted into the rectum or vagina. Its diagnosis is, therefore, difficult. Methods like x-ray, ultrasonography, and computed tomography (CT) are usually used to diagnose body packers. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic power and feasibility of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool in patients who have a suspicion of being body packers.

METHODS

This study is designed as a prospective and single-centered case-control study in the emergency department of a training and research hospital. Cases admitted to the emergency department with suspicion of being a body packer were included in the study. The data obtained was recorded on the study form. p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

RESULTS

One hundred and one patients were included in the study; 76.2% (n = 77) were male. Packages were detected in 56.5% (n = 57) of the cases. Ultrasonography was found to be significantly useful in evaluating the presence of intra-abdominal packages. Ultrasonography had 92.4% sensitivity and 97.8% specificity in evaluating the presence of packs.

CONCLUSION

CT is frequently used to diagnose patients admitted to the emergency departments with suspected body packing. In our study, ultrasonography is an advantageous imaging method, given its success rate, radiation-free nature, and low cost. We have found ultrasonography to be a successful imaging modality in examining patients suspected of being body packers for the presence of packs, and it can replace CT in clinics.

International Smuggling of Illicit Drugs by Body Concealment at a Tertiary Hospital in Istanbul

ABSTRACT

Smuggling of illicit substances by internal concealment has recently become a preferred method of international drug trade. The drug carriers are known as body packers. This study aimed to assess the demographic features and outcomes of body packers admitted to a referral center in Istanbul. Data were retrospectively evaluated from January 2017 to December 2019 from suspected body packers who were referred to the emergency department of a tertiary-care university by Istanbul Airport narcotics police due to suspected concealment of illicit drugs. Eighty-one cases were identified and included in this study. Of these, 71 subjects were confirmed to be body packers by radiological methods. The 15 women and 56 men had a mean age of 35 years. The most common nationality of the body packers was Nigerian, followed by Turkish and South African. Cocaine was the most commonly smuggled packet, followed by hashish, and heroin. All body packers were conservatively managed using laxatives or watchful waiting. No cases required surgical retrieval of packets. Abdominal radiography and computed tomography are useful tools for the evaluation of suspected body packers. The use of improved packaging material by smugglers and complications due to surgery and endoscopy make the conservative approach preferred.