South Korea airport defends invasive body search of traveller after drug scanner error
Customs officials say the invasive search was lawful and an ‘unavoidable measure’ even though it left the traveller with vaginal bleeding
An airport in South Korea has defended subjecting a woman to an invasive body search on suspicion of being a drug mule that left her with vaginal bleeding.
Customs officials intercepted the passenger from the Philippines when she transited through Daegu airport last month after a scanner indicated she was carrying drugs in her luggage.
The traveller said the detected item was a liquid contained in e-cigarettes intended for her personal use, prompting officers to deploy a different device to frisk the visitor.
The scan showed an object near her pants, which turned out to be a sanitary pad.
A female official later took the woman to another room and inspected the napkin for 20 minutes, and allowed her to leave after finding no narcotic substances.
The flier said the ordeal caused her extreme stress and vaginal bleeding for five days.
