Afonin D.N.Russian Customs Academy, St. Petersburg Branch n.a.V. Bobkov, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation dnafonin@gmail.com
Importance The research focuses on the specifics of detecting drugs in drug couriers’ bodies with X-ray scanners as used by customs officers. The research pursues enhancing the efficiency of using such scanners. Objectives The research summarizes and generalizes practices drug couriers use to transport drugs internally. It also evaluates prospects of using X-ray scanners for detecting drugs. Results If the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation use X-ray scanners to detect various drug containing items, weapons, explosive devices, jewels, cash and other items to be controlled. The article overviews key types of containers drug couriers use to carry drugs internally, their X-ray characteristics, specifics of visualizing containers with different drugs hidden in cavities of the human body. Customs officers should know indicators of various complications that may be caused by transportation of drug containers internally. Conclusions and Relevance If customs officers know X-ray indicators of internally concealed drugs, it will enhance the efficiency of drug detection.
Keywords: personal screening scanners, federal customs service, drug courier, drug swallower
References:
Glasser O. W.C. Roentgen and the Discovery of the Roentgen Rays. American Journal of Roentgenology, 1931, vol. 25, p. 437.
Collins V.P. Origins of Medico-Legal and Forensic Roentgenology. In: Classic Descriptions in Diagnostic Radiology. Springfield, 1964, vol. 2, p. 1578.
Angus W.M. A Commentary on the Development of Diagnostic Imaging Technology. RadioGraphics, 1989, vol. 9, iss. 6, p. 1225. doi: 10.1148/radiographics.9.6.2685942
Brogdon B.G. Forensic Radiology. CRC Press, 1998, 454 p.
Morton W.J. X-ray Picture of an Adult by One Exposure. The Electrical Engineer, 1897, vol. 23, p. 522.
Murphy W.A. Radiologic History Exhibit: Introduction to the History of Musculoskeletal Radiology. RadioGraphics, 1990, vol. 10, iss. 5, pp. 915–945. doi: 10.1148/radiographics.10.5.2217979
Deitel M., Syed A.K. Intestinal Obstruction by an Unusual Foreign Body. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1973, vol. 109, iss. 3, pp. 211–212. PMCID: PMC1946817
Hergan K., Kofler K., Oser W. Drug Smuggling by Body Packing: What Radiologists Should Know about It. European Radiology, 2004, vol. 14, iss. 4, pp. 736–742. doi: 10.1007/s00330-003-2091-5
Suzana Ab Hamid, Saiful Nizam Abd Rashid, Suraini Mohd Saini. Characteristic Imaging Features of Body Packers: A Pictorial Essay. Japanese Journal of Radiology, 2012, vol. 30, iss. 5, pp. 386–392. doi: 10.1007/s11604-012-0069-4
Benjamin F., Guillaume A.J., Chao L.P., Jean G.A. Vaginal Smuggling of Illicit Drug: A Case Requiring Obstetric Forceps for Removal of the Drug. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1994, vol. 171, iss. 5, pp. 1385–1387. PMID: 7977554
Neves F.F., Cupo P., Muglia V.F. et al. Body Packing by Rectal Insertion of Cocaine Packets: A Case Report. BMC Research Notes, 2013, no. 6, p. 178. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-178
Traub S.J., Hoffman R.S., Nelson L.S. Body Packing – The Internal Concealment of Illicit Drugs. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2003, vol. 349, iss. 26, pp. 2519–2526. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra022719
McCarron M.M., Wood J.D. The Cocaine ‘Body Packer’ Syndrome. Diagnosis and Treatment. JAMA, 1983, vol. 250, iss. 11, pp. 1417–1420. doi: 10.1001/jama.1983.03340110031027
Shahnazi M., Taheri M.S., Pourghorban R. Body Packing and Its Radiologic Manifestations: A Review Article. Iranian Journal of Radiology, 2011, vol. 8, iss. 4, pp. 205–210. doi: 10.5812/iranjradiol.4757
Pidoto R.R., Agliata A.M., Bertolini R. et al. A New Method of Packaging Cocaine for International Traffic and Implications for the Management of Cocaine Body Packers. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2002, vol. 23, iss. 2, pp. 149–153. doi: Link00505-X
June R., Aks S.E., Keys N., Wahl M. Medical Outcome of Cocaine Bodystuffers. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2000, vol. 18, iss. 2, pp. 221–224. doi: Link00198-5
Abdullaeva Kh.A. [Personal qualities of those involved in smuggling of drugs and psychotropic substances]. Aktual'nye problemy rossiiskogo prava = Actual Problems of Russian Law, 2008, no. 1, pp. 263–270. (In Russ.)
Flach P.M., Ross S.C., Thali M.J. Forensic and Clinical Usage of X-Rays in Body Packing. In: Brogdon's Forensic Radiology. CRC Press, 2011, pp. 311–334.
Traub S.J., Kohn G.L., Hoffman R.S., Nelson L.S. Pediatric “Body Packing”. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2003, vol. 157, iss. 2, pp. 174–177. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.157.2.174
Bulakci M., Kalelioglu T., Bulakci B.B., Kiris A. Comparison of Diagnostic Value of Multidetector Computed Tomography and X-Ray in the Detection of Body Packing. European Journal of Radiology, 2013, vol. 82, iss. 8, pp. 1248–1254. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.12.022
Sporer K.A. Acute Heroin Overdose. Annals of Internal Medicine, 1999, vol. 130, iss. 7, pp. 584–590. PMID: 10189329
Gungadin S.K., Ananda S. Body Packers in Mauritius. Romanian Journal of Legal Medicine, 2014, vol. 22, iss. 1, pp. 55–58. doi: 10.4323/rjlm.2014.55
Abdul Rashid S.N., Mohamad Saini S.B., Abdul Hamid S. et al. Walking on Thin Ice! Identifying Methamphetamine “Drug Mules” on Digital Plain Radiography. BJR, 2014, vol. 87, iss. 1036, pp. 10–36. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20130472
Karhunen P.J., Suoranta H., Penttilä A., Pitkäranta P. Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Drug Smuggler's Abdomen. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 1991, vol. 36, iss. 2, pp. 397–402. PMID: 2066721
Aldrighetti L., Paganelli M., Giacomelli M. et al. Conservative Management of Cocaine-Packet Ingestion: Experience in Milan, the Main Italian Smuggling Center of South American Cocaine. Panminerva Medica, 1996, vol. 38, iss. 2, pp. 111–116. PMID: 8979743
Prabhu R., Ne'eman A., Bier K., Patel N. Radiology of Body Packers: The Detection of Internally Concealed Illegal Materials. Applied Radiology, 2008, vol. 37, iss. 5, pp. 26–28.
Pinto A., Reginelli A., Pinto F. et al. Radiological and Practical Aspects of Body Packing. The British Journal of Radiology, 2014, vol. 87, iss. 1036, pp. 10–36. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20130500
Niewiarowski S., Gogbashian A., Afaq A. et al. Abdominal X-Ray Signs of Intra-Intestinal Drug Smuggling. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 2010, vol. 17, iss. 4, pp. 198–202. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2009.12.013
Zeina A.-R., Meisel S.R., Abu-Mouch S. et al. Detection of Intestinal Drug Containers: Clinical and Radiological Features. Israel Medical Association Journal, 2012, vol. 14, iss. 10, pp. 649–651. PMID: 23193791
Ramrakha P.S., Barton I. Drug Smuggler's Delirium. BMJ, 1993, vol. 306, iss. 6876, pp. 470–471. PMCID: PMC1676778
Silverberg D., Menes T., Kim U. Surgery for “Body Packers” – A 15-Year Experience. World Journal of Surgery, 2006, vol. 30, iss. 4, pp. 541–546. doi: 10.1007/s00268-005-0429-7
Hantson P., Capron A., Maillart J.-F. Oesophageal and Gastric Obstruction in a Cocaine Body Packer. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 2014, vol. 27, pp. 62–64. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2014.08.013
Duenas-Laita A., Nogue S., Burillo-Putze G. Body Packing. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2004, vol. 350, iss. 12, pp. 1260–1261. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200403183501220
Panagoulias G.S., Basagiannis C.S., Geragotou T., Ladas S.D. Gastrointestinal Cocaine Body Packing. Annals of Gastroenterology, 2013, vol. 26, iss. 1, p. 91. PMCID: PMC3959503
Schaper A., Hofmann R., Bargain P. et al. Surgical Treatment in Cocaine Body Packers and Body Pushers. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 2007, vol. 22, iss. 12, pp. 1531–1535. doi: 10.1007/s00384-007-0324-9
Cologne K.G., Ault G.T. Rectal Foreign Bodies: What is the Current Standard? Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, 2012, vol. 25, iss. 4, pp. 214–218. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1329392
