Liquid cocaine body packers

Abstract

Introduction. Internal transport of cocaine in liquid form by body packers has been reported by the media, but there are no scientific publications on the clinical aspects of this practice. Case reports. We describe two cases of body packers bearing 36 and 4 packs containing liquid cocaine in the colon and rectum, respectively. Abdominal X-ray in both cases showed radiological characteristics that differed from those commonly found in body packers transporting solid-state cocaine, heroin, or cannabis (packs with lower radiological density, diffuse borders, elongated and resembling feces). Both patients were asymptomatic and were discharged from the emergency department 6 hours after admission. Discussion. Expulsion time after laxative administration was shorter compared to “solid” drug body packers. The diagnostic sensitivity of different imaging techniques remains to be established for internally concealed liquid drugs. There have been press reports of internal pack rupture resulting in death, so caution is required. The lower radiographic density of liquid cocaine condom packs and their adaptability to intestinal anatomy make them difficult to detect using plain abdominal radiography. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of false negative radiological findings in these cases.