Treating cocaine body packers: The unspoken personal risks

Cawich, Shamir O.; Williams, Eric W.; Simpson, Lindberg K.; Evans, Necia R.; Johnson, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2007.10.010

« Previous Next »Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 4 , Pages 231-234, May 2008

Treating cocaine body packers: The unspoken personal risks

Shamir O. Cawich, MBBS, DM (Consultant General Surgeon)
- Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
- Corresponding author.
Eric W. Williams, MBBS, DM (Consultant Emergency Room Physician)
- Emergency Medicine Division, Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Lindberg K. Simpson, MBBS, DM (Consultant General Surgeon)
- Emergency Medicine Division, Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Necia R. Evans, BSc, LLB (Attorney at Law)
- Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Peter Johnson, MBBS, DM (Consultant Radiologist)
- The Department of Radiology, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica

Received 9 August 2007; accepted 13 October 2007.

Abstract

Cocaine trafficking is a significant problem that many Caribbean territories must face. “Body packing” is a common method of transport where the smugglers ingest several cocaine filled packages. Body packers may be taken to hospital when they are detained by law enforcement officers, but occasionally they present on their own or accompanied by persons other than the authorities. This scenario poses a difficult management dilemma in any jurisdiction. We describe our experience with one such case in Jamaica.

Keywords: Body packer, Body stuffer, Cocaine, Smuggler, Trafficker