Man dies by choking after swallowing drugs at police checkpoint

Victim in his 60s also attempted to consume a surgical mask; medics pronounce his death at the scene in northern Israel

A man in his sixties died by choking on Saturday after attempting to swallow a surgical mask containing a large amount of drugs to avoid police detection, according to a report on Saturday night.

The man, who was not immediately identified, encountered a police checkpoint between Acre and Kiryat Bialik, Channel 12 reported. He was traveling in a taxi, after being discharged from the Galilee Medical Center in the northern city of Nahariya for an unspecified ailment, according to the report.

To avoid a police inspection that would reveal his possessions of the drugs, he attempted to shove the items down his throat, resulting in his choking.

Medics called to the scene unsuccessfully attempted to revive the man. His death was pronounced at the scene.

In 2011, a Tel Aviv man in his 50s died in police custody after swallowing a bag of drugs.