title: Drug-related deaths with evidences of body packing: Two case reports and medico-legal issues.
abstract: Body packing is a general term used to indicate the internal transportation of drug packages, mainly cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, and methamphetamine, within the gastrointestinal tract. We described two cases of accidental drug intoxication, observed over the last year period, with evidence of intracorporeal drug concealment. The first case concerned a body packer transporting 69 drug packages of heroin adulterated with piracetam. The second body packer transported 16 drug packages of cocaine adulterated with levamisole. For both cases, forensic examination and toxicological analysis of drug packages and biological samples were carried out. Authors also wants to highlight the main medico-legal issues that commonly arise in cases of suspected or ascertained body packers.
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: simone.cappelletti@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariarosaria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aromatario
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bottoni
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola Antonella
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Straccamore
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Umani Ronchi
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: De Mari
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section - SAIMLAL Department, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciallella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000032:analysis; D003042:Cocaine / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D064423:Drug Trafficking; D003932:Heroin / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003932:Heroin; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Body packer; Cocaine; Drug concealment; Forensic toxicology; Heroin; Piracetam