A traveler from the Philippines reportedly underwent an invasive search at a South Korean airport after a drug scanner mistakenly flagged one of her personal items as containing narcotics.
READ: Traveler from the Philippines Endures Invasive Search at Korean Airport Following an Alleged Scanner Error
An incident at Daegu Airport on October 8, involving a woman in her 30s traveling from the Philippines, has gained attention after reports from South Korean outlets, including The Korea Herald and Yonhap News Agency. The traveler was flagged when an ion scanner detected a “high level” of narcotics in her suitcase, which was later determined to be e-liquid for an e-cigarette.
Customs officials then conducted a secondary check using a millimeter-wave scanner, which flagged an object near the traveler’s trousers. Upon further inspection, the object was found to be a sanitary pad. The woman was escorted to a private room for a more thorough search, where she was reportedly asked to remove the pad for examination.
A female customs officer conducted a 20-minute inspection, ultimately confirming that there were no narcotic substances. The traveler was allowed to leave, but the incident reportedly caused her extreme stress, resulting in vaginal bleeding for five days, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The incident has sparked backlash against the customs officials. However, the Daegu Regional Customs has defended its actions, stating that the ion scanner works by detecting molecular structures that resemble narcotics, which in this case occurred with the e-liquid.
Officials also emphasized that the body search was a necessary measure in light of increasing cases of drug smuggling through body concealment.
“We ask for cooperation and understanding regarding any inconvenience that may arise during customs inspections as we work to block the smuggling of drugs,” said the airport officials.
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