A male traveller from Afghanistan is found dead in a hotel room. Autopsy shows the stomach packed with foreign substances. What is this phenomenon called?

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2026

Explanation

Body packing is the correct medical and forensic term for the planned ingestion of multiple, well-wrapped packets of illicit drugs for smuggling.
This method involves large quantities of drugs, as seen in the provided CT scan, where numerous packets fill the gastrointestinal tract.
The goal is to transport drugs across borders internally. The individual is often referred to as a 'mule'.
Death often occurs due to packet rupture, leading to acute and massive drug toxicity, which aligns with the case description.

Option B: Body stuffing refers to the hasty, unplanned swallowing of small amounts of poorly wrapped or unwrapped drugs, typically to evade immediate arrest by law enforcement. It does not involve the large quantity and careful preparation seen in body packing.
Option C: 'Body storage' is not a recognized medical or forensic term for this practice. It is a descriptive but technically incorrect phrase.
Option D: 'Body smuggle' is a colloquial description but not the correct technical term used in medicine or forensics. The correct term specifies the method of concealment.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Forensic terminology for internal drug concealment as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses in emergency departments must be able to recognize potential body packers, who may present with symptoms of drug toxicity (e.g., seizures, coma, cardiac arrest) or bowel obstruction.
A high index of suspicion is crucial for travelers from known drug-exporting regions presenting with unexplained symptoms. Abdominal imaging (CT scan is preferred) is essential for diagnosis.
Management of a symptomatic body packer is a medical emergency. Endoscopic removal is contraindicated due to the high risk of rupturing the packets. The primary treatment is often emergency surgery (laparotomy) to remove all packets.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the keywords in the question: 'traveller from Afghanistan' (suggests international travel and a potential drug source region), 'dead', 'autopsy', and 'stomach packed with foreign substances'. These clues point towards a smuggling attempt gone wrong.
Next, carefully examine the image. The 3D CT scan shows a very large number of uniform, capsule-shaped objects inside the abdomen. This uniformity and large quantity suggest a planned, organized effort rather than a spontaneous act.
Correlate the clinical scenario with the visual evidence. The combination of smuggling context and a large, organized quantity of ingested items strongly points to the specific practice of 'body packing'.
Evaluate the options based on established forensic and medical terminology. 'Body packing' is the precise term for planned, large-scale internal concealment for smuggling.
Differentiate this from 'body stuffing', which is a hasty, small-scale act to avoid arrest. The scale of what's shown in the image rules out body stuffing.
Eliminate 'body storage' and 'body smuggle' as they are not standard technical terms for this phenomenon.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Forensic terminology for internal drug concealment.
Stem keywords: traveller, Afghanistan, dead, autopsy, stomach packed, foreign substances
Lead-in keywords: What is this phenomenon called?
Clinical cues: The image showing a large quantity of uniform packets is a key indicator of a planned, large-scale operation, which defines body packing.
Clinical cues: The location 'Afghanistan' is a known source region for opiates, adding context to the smuggling scenario.

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 164-166

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