Proving possession of drugs in so-called body stuffers.
In 2001 a new policy for dealing with drug traffickers was introduced in Hamburg. Any person suspected of having swallowed drugs in order to hide the evidence is taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine where the drugs will be recovered by pharmacologically induced vomiting. This method has proved to be safe and successful as drugs were recovered in nearly two-thirds of the cases. The offenders were predominantly male Africans 16-25 years old.
Püschel
Klaus
K
Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Hamburg, Butenfeld 34, 22529 Hamburg, Germany. pueschel@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Bachmann
Dirk
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime; D004349:Drug Packaging; D004639:Emetics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced*
D004639:Emetics; D013287:Illicit Drugs