Airports And Drug Testing: What Travelers Need To Know

Airports use fingerprint drug tests to screen for four drug groups: opiates, cocaine, amphetamines or methamphetamine, and cannabis. The test is non-invasive, quick, and hygienic, and can be used to aid intelligence-led investigations when travellers are suspected of trafficking drugs concealed within body cavities. The test works by collecting and analysing tiny traces of sweat from a suspected body packer’s fingerprint to screen for the presence of drugs or drug metabolites that have been released into a person’s system as a result of swallowing or inserting sealed drug-filled packets.

Fingerprint-based drug tests

Airports use fingerprint-based drug tests to screen for suspected drug mules. The Intelligent Fingerprinting drug test collects and analyses tiny traces of sweat from a suspected body packer’s fingerprint to screen for the presence of drugs or drug metabolites that have been released into a person’s system as a result of swallowing or inserting sealed drug packets. The test screens for four drug groups simultaneously: opiates, cocaine, amphetamines or methamphetamine, and cannabis. It provides a simple, non-invasive and hygienic solution which is quick and easy for everyone involved.

The test was trialled at Fiumicino Airport in Italy, where it was used to aid intelligence-led investigations when travellers were suspected of trafficking drugs concealed within body cavities. The test offers a quick and simple means of screening a passenger for drugs, which could indicate body-packing even when drugs have been concealed in swallowed sealed packets. Body packing is a real concern for airport and border control staff – not just because it is a widespread way of smuggling drugs, but also because of the potentially fatal risk of acute drug toxicity it poses to mules, should a drug packet split or seep internally.

The new fingerprint drug-screening approach provides airport and border control staff with a rapid and hygienic way of screening for suspected drug mules. Body packing is the process where people swallow or insert drug-filled packets inside the body to evade detection. The Intelligent Fingerprinting drug-screening system enables customs officials to act on intelligence received on possible body packers and detect indications of body packing in just ten minutes.

This contrasts with traditional body fluid tests such as urine, which typically require specially prepared testing facilities, are costlier to administer and can take longer to screen potential drug smugglers. The fingerprint-based drug test is a significant advancement in airport drug testing, offering a rapid, accurate and non-invasive means of detecting drug trafficking.

Drug mules and body packing

Airports use fingerprint-based drug tests to screen suspected drug mules. The Intelligent Fingerprinting drug test works by collecting and analysing tiny traces of sweat from a suspected body packer’s fingerprint to screen for the presence of drugs or drug metabolites that have been released into a person’s system as a result of swallowing or inserting sealed drug packets. The test screens for four drug groups simultaneously – opiates, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis – providing a simple, non-invasive and hygienic solution which is quick and easy for everyone involved.

Body packing is the process where people swallow or insert drug-filled packets inside the body to evade detection. It is a widespread way of smuggling drugs and poses a potentially fatal risk of acute drug toxicity to mules, should a drug packet split or seep internally.

The new Intelligent Fingerprinting drug-screening system enables customs officials to act on intelligence received on possible body packers and detect indications of body packing in just ten minutes. This contrasts with traditional body fluid tests such as urine, which typically require specially prepared testing facilities, are costlier to administer and can take longer to screen potential drug smugglers.

The fingerprint-based drug test has been trialled at Fiumicino Airport in Italy, where it has been used to aid intelligence-led investigations when travellers are suspected of trafficking drugs concealed within body cavities.

Screening for four drug groups

Airports use fingerprint-based drug tests to screen for four drug groups: opiates, cocaine, amphetamines or methamphetamine, and cannabis. This test is non-invasive and hygienic, and it screens for these four drug groups simultaneously. It works by collecting and analysing tiny traces of sweat from a suspected body packer’s fingerprint to screen for the presence of drugs or drug metabolites that have been released into a person’s system as a result of swallowing or inserting sealed drug packets. This test is much quicker than traditional body fluid tests such as urine tests, which require specially prepared testing facilities and are more costly to administer.

How to detect body packing

Airports use a fingerprint-based drug test to screen for four drug groups simultaneously: opiates, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis. This test is non-invasive, quick and easy for everyone involved. It can be used to aid intelligence-led investigations when travellers are suspected of trafficking drugs concealed within body cavities.

Body packing is the process where people swallow or insert drug-filled packets inside their body to evade detection. The new Intelligent Fingerprinting drug screening system enables customs officials to act on intelligence received on possible body packers and detect indications of body packing in just ten minutes. This is done by collecting and analysing tiny traces of sweat from a suspected body packer’s fingerprint to screen for the presence of drugs or drug metabolites that have been released into a person’s system as a result of swallowing or inserting sealed packets.

Body packing is described as using the abdominal or pelvic cavity for concealing illegal drugs. Leakage from the packets may cause catastrophic effects on smugglers and medical history is not reliable in these patients. New sophisticated smuggling techniques make it imperative that radiologists and emergency physicians understand and familiarise themselves with the different radiological manifestations of ingested drug packets.

Currently, there is no gold standard for imaging patients suspected of body packing; nevertheless, computed tomography (CT) seems to be the best modality for packet detection and unenhanced CT without bowel preparation is a reliable technique for detection of ingested packets. Radiological imaging methods are essential to diagnose body packing and to detect potential complications.

Traditional body fluid tests

The Intelligent Fingerprinting drug test works by collecting and analysing tiny traces of sweat from a suspected body packer's fingerprint to screen for the presence of drugs or drug metabolites that have been released into a person's system as a result of swallowing or inserting sealed drug packets. This test screens for four drug groups simultaneously: opiates, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.

Trials of the fingerprint-based drug test were conducted at Fiumicino Airport in Italy, where it was used to aid intelligence-led investigations when travellers were suspected of trafficking drugs concealed within body cavities. The test offers a quick and simple means of screening a passenger for drugs, which could indicate body packing even when drugs have been concealed in swallowed sealed packets.

Body packing is a real concern for airport and border control staff, as it is a widespread way of smuggling drugs and also poses a potentially fatal risk of acute drug toxicity to mules should a drug packet split or seep internally. The new fingerprint-based drug test enables customs officials to act on intelligence received on possible body packers and detect indications of body packing in just ten minutes.

Frequently asked questions