[liberationtech] Smuggling small objects – a case-study

[sd+]

% Smuggling small objects – a case-study
% anonymous
% early 2014


# Abstract

This case-report shows that coating a small object in beeswax might be a viable way of shielding it against the chemical and mechanical stresses exerted by the human digestive system.

Pros:

- Object cannot be found by manual examination of body cavities.
- Object cannot be lost, robbed or stolen during passing period.

Cons:

- Does not prevent discovery by x-ray
- There is no control over the point in time the retrieval might take place.
- Retrieval involves exposure to fecal matter.


# Materials and methods

## Object

A flat cylinder of compacted glucose powder as it is usually given to children at german pharmacies coated in beeswax in fashion of drawing candles. Dimensions of cylinder: radius: 20mm, height: 8mm, rounded edges. Minimum thickness of coating: less than 1 mm.

The reasons for choosing compacted glucose powder over e.g. a micro-sd card are the non-toxic nature of glucose as well as its high water-solubility which should reliably indicate breaches in the coating.

## Subject

Healthy human adult with low body mass index and predominantly vegetarian diet.

## Process

The object was dipped in canola oil and swallowed with a glass of water during a substantial meal of fiber-rich cereals. Following passings of stool were probed with tweezers until the object could be recovered.
Examination took place using a plateaued toilet, but also disposable containers like tin cans or defolded milk cartons were considered if no plateaued toilet were available. Disposable examination gloves were worn and the tweezers were cleaned and sterilized over open gas flame after use.


# Results

The object was retrieved after 27 hours. The beeswax coating didn't seem affected by the digestive system of the subject. No adverse events were observed.


# Conclusion

The coating of small objects in beeswax and swallowing them seems to be a viable method of withdrawing small object from the control of adversaries for a period of at least 24 hours.