[Body packing as a fatal risk--results of a questionnaire survey in Western Europe].

A questionnaire was sent to 138 institutes of Forensic Medicine in 18 countries of Western Europe to obtain information concerning bodypackers, who had died between 1980 and 1990. The total number of dead was 17 (4 own cases). 8 cases were reported from the Federal Republic of Germany, 4 from Italy, 2 from Great Britain and 1 from Austria, Spain and Norway each. In 15 cases some circumstances were told. Most of the bodypackers had transported heroin (10), in 2 cases cocaine and amphetamine were found and in 1 case marihuana inside of stomach and bowel. The related risk seems to be low in comparison to police authorities presuming that about 80% of drug-couriers move the stuff inside their body to and fro.