Investigation of Radiological Imaging, Treatment and Package Contents of Body Packers Brought to the Emergency Department in Our Region

INTRODUCTION: The illegal transportation of drugs in body cavities has recently become a method used in international drug trafficking. We wanted to study the demographic characteristics, the types and quantities of substances carried. Besides we wanted to present the characteristics of a case of opioid intoxication in our region.
METHODS: Between January 2020 and July 2023, we retrospectively reviewed the patients who were brought to a third level emergency department by law enforcement officers with the suspicion of carrying drugs in their bodies. The characteristics and quantity of the substances they were carrying were obtained from the Department of Narcotics.
RESULTS: Twenty-two patients brought to our emergency department were found to have narcotics in their bodies. 5 were female and 17 were male. The mean age was 31.4 years. The majority (68%) of substances carried were opioids. The packages were surgically removed in the person who developed opioid toxicity, while laxatives were used in the others. It was found that the broken package was made by simple bagging without the use of a condom.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Conclusion: In our region, all the people carrying drugs in their bodies were young. The substance carried was mostly opioids rather than cocaine. All smugglers used the wheeled transportation.