Ingested Marihuana-Filled Balloons

Dassel, Paul M.; Punjabi, Eshwar

doi:10.1016/s0016-5085(79)80144-4

Cited by 33 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…It is a frequently used method for drug trafficking to avert detection at border crossings or airport customs. Body packers may ingest packets of varying sizes and containing various illicit drugs, including cocaine, 3 amphetamine, 4 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘ecstasy’), 5 marijuana, 6 and heroin 7 . Alternatively, body packers may introduce drug‐filled packets into their bodies per rectally or per vaginally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiological features of body packers: An experience from a regional accident and emergency department in close proximity to the Hong Kong International Airport

Tsang¹,

Wong

Wong³

et al. 2018

Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine

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Background: Body packing is a frequently used method for drug trafficking. Local information about the clinical and radiological features of body packing is lacking. Objectives: To evaluate the radiological features of body packers presenting to a hospital near to the Hong Kong International Airport and to compare the radiological features of solid form versus liquid cocaine. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Medical notes of 269 suspected body packers, presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department of North Lantau Hospital under the detention by the law enforcement personnel from 1st January 2015 to 28th February 2017, were reviewed. The radiological features of body packing were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Sixty-nine cases were confirmed body packers radiographically. Majority of them (81%, 56/69) were cocaine packers. Powder form cocaine (67%, 49/69) was the most popular drug packed, followed by liquid cocaine (15%, 10/69). There was a trend of increasing incidence of liquid cocaine packers. The classical `double condom', `tic tac' and `halo' signs were present in 94%, 72.5% and 42% of cases with radiologically confirmed body packing respectively. The `rosette' sign was only identified in 1 case. Three new radiological signs, the `bag of eggs', `lucent triangle' and `black crescent' sign, were suggested to aid identification of drug packets. The classical `tic tac' sign was absent in all liquid cocaine packing cases (p<0.05). The liquid cocaine packets appeared irregular with indistinct border in majority of cases (p<0.05). The solid form packets were mostly opaque to faeces while liquid cocaine had variable density (p<0.05). Most solid form packets had homogeneous content which was in contrast to the heterogeneous content in liquid cocaine (p<0.05). Conclusion: Failure in detecting drug body packing may result in medicolegal consequences. Emergency physicians need to be aware of subtle radiological signs of liquid cocaine packets in the plain abdominal radiography.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiological features of body packers: An experience from a regional accident and emergency department in close proximity to the Hong Kong International Airport

Tsang¹,

Wong

Wong³

et al. 2018

Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine

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“…The first case of body packing was identified in 1973, and since then, it has been a well-recognised method of illegal drug transportation in developed and developing countries [10]. It is a means of internal concealment for the transportation of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin [11], amphetamines [12], 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy") [13], marijuana [14], or sometime more than one type [15]. Such smugglers are also known as couriers, mules, internal carriers, or swallowers [11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pierwszy przypadek przewożenia narkotyków ukrytych w ciele wykryto w 1973 r. Obecnie jest to powszechna metoda przemytu zarówno w krajach rozwiniętych, jak i rozwijających się [10]. W ten sposób przemyca się kokainę, heroinę [11], narkotyki z grupy amfetamin [12], 3,4-metylenodioksymetamfetaminę ("ecstasy") [13], marihuanę [14], a niekiedy kilka różnych narkotyków [15]. Osoby trudniące się przemytem tą metodą to tzw.…”

Section: Dyskusjaunclassified

Unexpected deadly outcome of a body packer – a case of drowning and illegal drug trafficking with review

Vadysinghe

Banda²,

Thilakarathne

et al. 2019

amsik

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Przemyt narkotyków wewnątrz ciała jest powszechną praktyką stosowaną w nielegalnym obrocie tymi substancjami na całym świecie. Może prowadzić do stanów zagrażających życiu, głównie w wyniku przenikania do układu krążenia śmiertelnych dawek nielegalnych substancji, a nawet zgonu z powodu ostrego przedawkowania narkotyków. Większość takich przypadków ma charakter nagły i niespodziewany. W pracy przedstawiono przypadek, w którym początkowo uznano, że śmierć niezidentyfikowanej ofiary nastąpiła w sposób niebudzący podejrzeń i była skutkiem utonięcia w wodzie morskiej. Ostatecznie jednak wykazano, że ofiarą był przemytnik narkotyków, a zgon nastąpił w wyniku utonięcia z powodu przedawkowania morfiny. Opisany przypadek wskazuje na istotne znaczenie badania przyczyn i okoliczności śmierci nawet niezidentyfikowanych ofiar oraz na śmiertelne skutki przemytu różnych narkotyków wewnątrz ciała, których nie opisywano wcześniej w literaturze.

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“…Heroin and cocaine are the usual drugs carried by body packers, but amphetamines, 13 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) 5,9 and marijuana 14 are sometimes discovered. Each packet may contain 3 to 15 grams of the drug.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of Body Packers in the Emergency Department

Wong¹,

Lai²,

Chung³

2005

Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine

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Body packing of illicit drugs is one of the means of drug trafficking. Asymptomatic suspects may be brought in by law-enforcement officers for body search of possible drug packing inside the body. Symptomatic body packers may present with gastrointestinal obstruction or toxicity of the leaking drugs inside the packets. Management strategies are largely determined by the modes of presentation. Asymptomatic persons must be persuaded with every effort for consent to the body cavity search as well as treatment for the safe passage of any packed drugs to avoid possible complications and medico-legal sequelae. Abdominal X-rays and computed tomography can be helpful in confirming the presence of drug packets and in identifying possible packet leakage. Gastrointestinal decontamination, whole bowel irrigation, use of specific antidote as well as operative intervention may be indicated. Emergency physicians must be conversant with the medical and legal aspects of the management of these body packers.

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Ingested Marihuana-Filled Balloons

Cited by 33 publications

References 4 publications

Radiological features of body packers: An experience from a regional accident and emergency department in close proximity to the Hong Kong International Airport

Radiological features of body packers: An experience from a regional accident and emergency department in close proximity to the Hong Kong International Airport

Unexpected deadly outcome of a body packer – a case of drowning and illegal drug trafficking with review

Management of Body Packers in the Emergency Department

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