31:
140:, often in such places as between the cheeks of the buttocks or between rolls of fat. Other inconspicuous places, like the soles of cut out shoes, inside belts, or the rim of a hat, were used more often prior to the early 1990s. Due to increased airport security the "body packing" method is rarely used any more. Some narcotics-trafficking organizations, such as the Mexican
153:
39:
144:, will purposely send one or two people with drugs on the outside of their body to purposely be caught, so that the authorities are preoccupied while dozens of mules pass by undetected with drugs inside their body. However, even these diversionary tactics are becoming less prevalent as airport security increases.
586:
Dx by: Abdominal radiograph, physical evidence of packet, exploratory laparotomy to remove additional packets, sigmoidoscopy.... These were found INSIDE the patient's bowel.... Cocaine packets recovered in the
Emergency Department from rectal cavity of patient. Cocaine is stuffed into latex glove
255:
An increasingly popular type of swallowing involves having the drug in the form of liquid-filled balloons or condoms/packages. These are impossible to detect unless the airport has high-sensitivity X-Ray equipment, as a liquid mixture of water and the drug will most likely not be detected using a
251:
Routine detection of the smuggled packets is extremely difficult, and many cases come to light because a packet has ruptured or because of intestinal obstruction. Unruptured packets may sometimes be detected by rectal or vaginal examination, but the only reliable way is by X-ray of the abdomen.
278:
Ruptured packets can be fatal and often require treatment as for a drug overdose and may require admission to an intensive care unit. Body packers are not always reliable sources of information about the contents of the packages (either because of fears about information being passed on to law
119:, and the purpose of the smuggling is to get around these restrictions. In this case, smuggling may be done in plain sight, in smaller quantities, so that a suitcase full of used clothes or a new computer can be passed off as a personal possession rather than an importing business.
793:
263:, but if a packet ruptures or if there is intestinal obstruction, then it may be necessary to operate and surgically remove the packets. Oil-based laxatives should never be used, as they can weaken the latex of condoms and cause packets to rupture.
424:
Statement of
Michael A. Braun, Chief of Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Before the House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, November 9, 2005 – "The Illicit Drug Transit Zone in Central
326:, a woman attempted to smuggle 88 balloons of cocaine in her gastrointestinal tract. She had been detained for over 16 hours by customs inspectors before she finally passed some of the balloons. She was being held because her
304:. According to Customs Law of China and Smuggling Penalties, a person shall be subject to a criminal charge if found smuggling small quantities of goods three times in one year. The maximum jail sentence is three years.
65:. The organizers employ mules to reduce the risk of getting caught themselves. Methods of smuggling include hiding the goods in vehicles or carried items, attaching them to one's body, or using the body as a container.
634:
Walter, Benjamin M.; Martignoni, M.; Säckl, J.; Felgenhauer, N.; Eyer, F.; Tratzl, V.; Schmid, R. M.; von Delius, S. (July 2012). "A curious case of body packing: impaction of cocaine capsules in a colostomy exit".
127:
The practice of transporting goods outside or inside of the body is called body packing. This is done by a person usually called a mule or bait. The contraband is attached to the outside of the body using
881:
Pidoto RR, Agliata AM, Bertoline R, Mainini A, Rossi G, Giani G (2002). "A new method of packaging cocaine for international traffic and implications for the management of cocaine body-packers".
494:
Sribanditmongkol, P; Supasingsiripreecha, W; Thampitak, S; Junkuy, A (January 2006). "Fatal Heroin
Intoxication in Body Packers in Northern Thailand during the Last Decade: Two Case Reports".
223:
against people by threatening physical harm against friends or family, but the more common practice is for swallowers to willingly accept the job in exchange for big payoffs. As reported in
334:), and a search of her body had revealed that she was wearing two pairs of elastic underpants and had lined her crotch area with paper towels. This is done because balloon swallowing makes
573:
300:
where the tax laws are relaxed. Mules employed by smugglers have been found with devices strapped to their bodies in an effort to smuggle them across the border from Hong Kong to
577:
279:
enforcement agencies or because the mule genuinely does not know). Urine toxicology may be necessary to determine what drugs are being carried and what antidotes are needed.
349:
reports: "Unlike cocaine, heroin is often smuggled by people who swallow large numbers of small capsules (50–90), allowing them to transport up to 1.5 kilograms of heroin.
339:
243:
is $ 2,100, Nigerians can collect as much as $ 15,000 per trip." Swallowers have been apprehended from a variety of age groups, including adults, teens, and children.
219:
or drug dealer. Swallowers are often impoverished and agree to transport the drugs in exchange for money or other favors. In fewer cases, the drug dealers can attempt
104:
Sometimes the goods are hidden in the bag or vehicle of an innocent person, who does not know about the contraband, for the purpose of retrieving the goods elsewhere.
444:
275:, and endoscopic retrieval all carry a risk of packet rupture and should not be used. Repeat imaging is only necessary if the mule does not know the packet count.
212:. A drug mule may swallow dozens upon dozens of balloons. The swallower then attempts to cross international borders, excrete the balloons, and sell the drugs.
360:
In all, around 18% of the UK's female jail population are foreigners, 60% of whom are serving sentences for drug-related offences – most of them drug mules.
357:
In 2003, over 50% of foreign female prisoners in UK jails were drug mules from
Jamaica. Nigerian women make a large contribution to the remaining figure.
101:
Methods of smuggling include hiding the goods in a large vehicle, luggage, or clothes. In a vehicle, the contraband is hidden in secret compartments.
384:
297:
1020:
581:
318:
932:
231:: "Nigerian drug lords have employed an army of 'swallowers', those who will swallow as many as 150 balloons and smuggle drugs into the
734:
313:
369:
346:
374:
422:
452:
184:. A swallower typically fills tiny balloons with small quantities of a drug. The balloons may be made with multilayered
165:
467:
390:
84:. Small-scale operations, in which one courier carries one piece or a very small quantity, are sometimes called the
252:
Hashish appears denser than stool, cocaine is approximately the same density as stool, while heroin looks like air.
256:
standard X-Ray machine. Most of the major airports in Europe, Canada, and the US have the more sensitive machines.
1015:
750:
Hergan K, Kofler K, Oser W (2004). "Drug smuggling by body packing: what radiologists should know about it".
62:
599:
Low, VHS; Dillon, EK (October 2005). "Agony of the ecstasy: Report of five cases of MDMA smuggling".
196:. One smuggling method involves swallowing the balloons, which are recovered later from the excreted
200:. Alternatively, the balloons may be hidden in other natural or artificial body cavities – such as
112:
846:
Traub SJ, Hoffman RS, Nelson LS (2003). "Body packing—the internal concealment of illicit drugs".
1010:
775:
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342:
rights had been violated, but the court found in favor of the border authorities.
824:
671:
193:
169:
141:
34:
Plain radiograph of the abdomen of a drug "mule" showing swallowed drug capsules
30:
544:
917:
763:
648:
428:, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), November 9, 2005, archived from
379:
260:
236:
108:
81:
58:
979:
688:
527:
293:
220:
216:
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902:
867:
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331:
301:
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It is most common for the swallower to be making the trip on behalf of a
116:
17:
327:
240:
177:
152:
38:
698:
208:, vagina, and mouth – although this method is far more vulnerable to
201:
185:
173:
137:
587:
fingers and tied. Condoms may also be used - but are more expensive.
272:
197:
172:
as containers. Swallowing has been used for the transportation of
157:
151:
37:
29:
27:
Person who smuggles contraband and illegal drugs to another border
811:
Dueñas-Laita A, Nogué S, Burillo-Putze G (2004). "Body packing".
42:
German
Customs Officer with seized cocaine containers (Bodypacks)
181:
133:
574:"Cocaine overdose secondary to rupture of latex cocaine packet"
259:
In most cases, it is only necessary to wait for the packets to
526:
Traub, SJ; Kohn, GL; Hoffman, RS; Nelson, LS (February 2003).
672:"The cocaine 'body-packer' syndrome: Diagnosis and treatment"
292:
Some mobile phones and electronics are available for less in
345:
With regard to traffic from South
America to the US, the US
61:
across a border (as opposed to sending by mail, etc.) for a
468:"Here's What Really Happens to Your Used Clothes - Racked"
445:"Panamanian Drug Gang and "Swallowers" Nailed by NYPD"
107:
Some contraband is legal to possess but is subject to
578:
Uniformed
Services University of the Health Sciences
722:
918:"iPhone Mules Attempt to Smuggle Tech into China"
725:Lost Rights: the Destruction of American Liberty
532:Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
496:Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand
8:
338:difficult to control. The woman claimed her
806:
804:
521:
519:
517:
955:"Jamaica's women drug mules fill UK jails"
330:was noticeably swollen (she claimed to be
697:
687:
543:
385:U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
407:
489:
487:
160:showing swallowed packages of cocaine.
111:or other import restrictions, such as
933:"Man in jail for multiple smugglings"
567:
565:
563:
417:
415:
413:
411:
319:United States v. Montoya De Hernandez
7:
980:"Nigerian drug mules 'on the rise'"
76:applies. Other slang terms include
676:Indian Journal of Medical Sciences
451:. Men's News Daily. Archived from
164:This is often done using a mule's
25:
883:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
613:10.1111/j.1440-1673.2005.01503.x
916:Goren, Lauren (March 5, 2012).
848:New England Journal of Medicine
813:New England Journal of Medicine
370:Drug Enforcement Administration
347:Drug Enforcement Administration
247:Detection and medical treatment
192:, or more sophisticated hollow
375:Illegal drug trade in Colombia
298:Special Administrative Regions
1:
1021:Illegal drug trade techniques
895:10.1016/S0736-4679(02)00505-X
466:Guo, Eileen (13 March 2018).
443:Kouri, Jim (March 20, 2006).
729:. Palgrave Macmillan Trade.
825:10.1056/NEJM200403183501220
391:United States Border Patrol
316:dealt with body packing in
1037:
939:. Shenzhen. Archived from
545:10.1001/archpedi.157.2.174
528:"Pediatric "body packing""
70:transporting illegal drugs
54:is someone who personally
764:10.1007/s00330-003-2091-5
649:10.1007/s11419-012-0139-4
689:10.4103/0019-5359.17054
283:International incidents
798:Saturday, 22 May 2021
721:Bovard, James (1995).
601:Australasian Radiology
166:gastrointestinal tract
161:
63:smuggling organization
43:
35:
155:
41:
33:
860:10.1056/NEJMra022719
455:on February 4, 2012.
432:on December 10, 2005
210:body cavity searches
637:Forensic Toxicology
113:second-hand clothes
752:European Radiology
572:Parisek, Sonja I.
314:U.S. Supreme Court
162:
44:
36:
449:mensnewsdaily.com
296:, one of China's
239:yearly income of
16:(Redirected from
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1016:Drug control law
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701:
691:
670:Khan FH (2005).
667:
661:
660:
631:
625:
624:
596:
590:
589:
580:. Archived from
569:
558:
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523:
512:
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340:Fourth Amendment
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854:(26): 2519–26.
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598:
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584:on 2015-02-17.
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366:
355:
336:bowel movements
310:
290:
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269:syrup of ipecac
249:
150:
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78:Kinder Surprise
68:In the case of
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943:on 2014-09-03.
937:Shenzhen Daily
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819:(12): 1260–1.
800:
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736:978-0312123338
735:
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662:
643:(2): 199–201.
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472:www.racked.com
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353:United Kingdom
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889:(2): 149–53.
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758:(4): 736–42.
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502:(1): 106–10.
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308:United States
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261:pass normally
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233:United States
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188:, fingers of
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170:body cavities
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130:adhesive tape
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988:. Retrieved
986:. 2005-10-03
983:
974:
963:. Retrieved
961:. 2003-09-13
958:
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607:(5): 400–3.
604:
600:
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585:
582:the original
538:(2): 174–7.
535:
531:
499:
495:
475:. Retrieved
471:
461:
453:the original
448:
438:
430:the original
423:
396:War on Drugs
359:
356:
344:
323:
317:
311:
291:
277:
258:
254:
250:
235:. Given the
229:James Bovard
224:
214:
190:latex gloves
182:MDMA/Ecstasy
163:
126:
123:Body packing
106:
103:
100:
85:
73:
67:
51:
47:
45:
920:. Mashable.
794:"סחר בסמים"
225:Lost Rights
97:Concealment
72:, the term
1005:Categories
990:2010-05-13
965:2010-05-13
477:2018-03-23
402:References
380:Money mule
237:per capita
156:Abdominal
148:Swallowing
92:Techniques
82:Easter Egg
59:contraband
1011:Smuggling
780:206954313
699:1807/7635
324:Hernandez
294:Hong Kong
221:extortion
217:drug lord
206:colostomy
168:or other
117:computers
86:ant trade
74:drug mule
18:Drug mule
984:BBC News
959:BBC News
931:Li Hao.
903:12359282
868:14695412
833:15028835
772:14566426
708:16272682
657:32808024
621:16174179
554:12580688
508:16583590
425:America"
364:See also
332:pregnant
302:Shenzhen
56:smuggles
328:abdomen
265:Emetics
241:Nigeria
194:pellets
186:condoms
178:cocaine
142:cartels
52:courier
901:
866:
831:
778:
770:
733:
706:
655:
619:
552:
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273:enemas
202:rectum
180:, and
174:heroin
138:straps
776:S2CID
653:S2CID
387:(ICE)
322:. In
288:China
267:like
198:feces
158:X-ray
136:, or
109:taxes
899:PMID
864:PMID
829:PMID
768:PMID
731:ISBN
704:PMID
617:PMID
550:PMID
504:PMID
312:The
134:glue
115:and
80:and
48:mule
891:doi
856:doi
852:349
821:doi
817:350
760:doi
694:hdl
684:doi
645:doi
609:doi
540:doi
536:157
227:by
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