Swallowing
This is often done using a mule's gastrointestinal tract or other body cavities as containers. Swallowing has been used for the transportation of heroin,[1][3][4] cocaine,[5] and MDMA/Ecstasy.[6] A swallower typically fills tiny balloons with small quantities of a drug. The balloons may be made with multilayered condoms, fingers of latex gloves,[5] or more sophisticated hollow pellets. One smuggling method involves swallowing the balloons, which are recovered later from the excreted feces. Alternately, the balloons may be hidden in other natural or artificial body cavities – such as rectum,[5] colostomy,[7] vagina, and mouth[8] – although this method is far more vulnerable to body cavity searches. A drug mule may swallow dozens upon dozens of balloons.[4] The swallower then attempts to cross international borders, excrete the balloons, and sell the drugs.
It is most common for the swallower to be making the trip on behalf of a drug lord or drug dealer. Swallowers are often impoverished and agree to transport the drugs in exchange for money or other favors. In fewer cases, the drug dealers can attempt extortion against people by threatening physical harm against friends or family, but the more common practice is for swallowers to willingly accept the job in exchange for big payoffs. As reported in Lost Rights by James Bovard: "Nigerian drug lords have employed an army of 'swallowers', those who will swallow as many as 150 balloons and smuggle drugs into the United States. Given the per capita yearly income of Nigeria is $2,100, Nigerians can collect as much as $15,000 per trip."[9]
Swallowers have been apprehended from a variety of age groups, including adults, teens, and children.[4]
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