News (Media Awareness Project) - CN AB: 'Body Packing' Can Kill |
| Title: | CN AB: 'Body Packing' Can Kill |
| Published On: | 2004-08-27 |
| Source: | Edmonton Sun (CN AB) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-18 01:42:00 |
'BODY PACKING' CAN KILL
Swallowing drug-filled balloons to smuggle the illegal substances into
jails can be deadly and inmates need to be taught about the dangers of
"body packing." That's what a city judge has recommended in his report
following a provincial court fatality inquiry into the Dec. 23, 2002,
death of Brendon Christopher Ziegler, 29, at the Edmonton Remand Centre.
Ziegler died of methamphetamine toxicity after a baggy containing the
drug commonly known as speed ruptured inside of him.
An autopsy showed the amount of the drug in his system was about 210
times the amount found in the blood of a person ingesting a
therapeutic dose.
At the inquiry police speculated Ziegler got the drugs in a deadly
kiss from his girlfriend, Shilo McEwan.
Court heard a guard had admonished the pair after they embraced in a
long smooch at the beginning of a visit.
A homicide detective testified the details of the Dec. 21 open visit
raised his suspicions that a small baggy containing speed was passed
during the kiss.
McEwan denied giving Ziegler the drugs or knowing where they came
from, but admitted Ziegler had previously asked her to bring drugs in,
said the detective.
A letter from McEwan found in Ziegler's cell also referred to a
"package" she had dropped off at the visit.
Judge Lloyd Malin concluded it was highly unlikely anything could have
been done to save Ziegler.
The judge said his only recommendation would be to have remand centre
inmates educated about the dangers of body packing.
"Mr. Ziegler's cellmate did not believe that Mr. Ziegler was in mortal
danger because of a ruptured body pack of speed," said Malin, in a
written report released this week.
"Perhaps other inmates share this misconception."
Inmates commonly ingest large quantities of drugs in balloons, condoms
or plastic baggies to escape detection by searches and enable them to
smuggle the drugs into jail.
A spokesman for the Solicitor General's Office says the remand centre
incorporated the body-packing message into education programs several
months ago.
Swallowing drug-filled balloons to smuggle the illegal substances into
jails can be deadly and inmates need to be taught about the dangers of
"body packing." That's what a city judge has recommended in his report
following a provincial court fatality inquiry into the Dec. 23, 2002,
death of Brendon Christopher Ziegler, 29, at the Edmonton Remand Centre.
Ziegler died of methamphetamine toxicity after a baggy containing the
drug commonly known as speed ruptured inside of him.
An autopsy showed the amount of the drug in his system was about 210
times the amount found in the blood of a person ingesting a
therapeutic dose.
At the inquiry police speculated Ziegler got the drugs in a deadly
kiss from his girlfriend, Shilo McEwan.
Court heard a guard had admonished the pair after they embraced in a
long smooch at the beginning of a visit.
A homicide detective testified the details of the Dec. 21 open visit
raised his suspicions that a small baggy containing speed was passed
during the kiss.
McEwan denied giving Ziegler the drugs or knowing where they came
from, but admitted Ziegler had previously asked her to bring drugs in,
said the detective.
A letter from McEwan found in Ziegler's cell also referred to a
"package" she had dropped off at the visit.
Judge Lloyd Malin concluded it was highly unlikely anything could have
been done to save Ziegler.
The judge said his only recommendation would be to have remand centre
inmates educated about the dangers of body packing.
"Mr. Ziegler's cellmate did not believe that Mr. Ziegler was in mortal
danger because of a ruptured body pack of speed," said Malin, in a
written report released this week.
"Perhaps other inmates share this misconception."
Inmates commonly ingest large quantities of drugs in balloons, condoms
or plastic baggies to escape detection by searches and enable them to
smuggle the drugs into jail.
A spokesman for the Solicitor General's Office says the remand centre
incorporated the body-packing message into education programs several
months ago.
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