Customs officers at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) recently detained a foreign national who attempted to smuggle 123 cocaine capsules, weighing a total of 1,580.44 grams, by concealing them inside his body. This case marks the largest instance of body-packing drug smuggling intercepted at Beijing customs during travel inspections in the past five years, as reported by the General Administration of Customs via their official WeChat account on Friday.
The individual, a male foreign passenger, was flagged during routine checks of inbound flights due to his visibly nervous behavior and failure to declare any items. Further questioning and inspection raised suspicions of drug smuggling through body-packing.
During the initial investigation, the suspect excreted four cylindrical objects wrapped in white plastic and rubber film. Preliminary tests confirmed the contents as cocaine. After being transferred to the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, the suspect was sent to a medical facility for observation and detoxification. Over several hours, he excreted additional drug capsules, which were later analyzed by a certified laboratory and confirmed to contain high-purity cocaine.
Body-packing involves swallowing drug-filled capsules encased in plastic film, a method often used by drug traffickers. However, this practice poses significant health risks, as stomach acid can corrode the capsules, potentially causing them to rupture and release the drugs. Such incidents can lead to acute poisoning and even death. Beyond personal health risks, this method of smuggling also fuels violent crime and other societal issues, endangering public safety and social stability, according to the General Administration of Customs.
Authorities emphasized that under Article 347 of China’s Criminal Law, individuals involved in smuggling, trafficking, transporting, or manufacturing narcotic drugs, regardless of the quantity, are subject to criminal liability and severe penalties. These may include lengthy prison sentences or, in extreme cases, the death penalty.
