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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT - ECSTASY TABLETS WITH GLITTER IN HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND
The Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division Laboratory (Pikesville, Maryland) recently received two separate submissions of green tablets containing glitter with a “Waving Man” logo, suspected Ecstasy (see Photo 1). The first submission consisted of 30 tablets (total net mass 8.1 grams), and were part of a polydrug seizure made by the Howard County Police from a individual in West Columbia. The second submission consisted of 10 tablets (total net mass 2.7 grams), and were part of a polydrug seizure also made by the Howard County Police, pursuant to a search and seizure warrant for suspected illicit drug activity at an apartment also in West Columbia. All of the tablets were well formed and did not crumble during handling. Analysis using a combination of color testing, FTIR/ATR, GC, and/or GC/MS confirmed MDMA, along with a small amount of niacinamide and trace methamphetamine (not confirmed). The MDMA was not quantitated but appeared to be above average based on the chromatograms and TICs. Other than minor variations in the percentages and relative ratios of the MDMA, niacinamide, and methamphetamine, the two sets of tablets were nearly identical in both appearance and chemical makeup. These are the first submissions of Ecstasy tablets containing glitter to the laboratory. No additional seizures of these tablets have been reported since these two submissions. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - PHENTERMINE
COUNTERFEITS
(CONTAINING
ACETAMINOPHEN)
The Pasadena Regional Crime Laboratory (Texas) recently received a submission of approximately 100 oval white tablets with blue speckles, each imprinted with “A 159” and half-scored on one face (see Photo 2; scale tick-marks are 1/8th inch). The tablets were turned into the Pasadena Police by a private citizen who had found them in their child’s rucksack. The tablet packaging was not included, but allegedly indicated that the tablets had been produced in and shipped from Pakistan, apparently filling an order made on an Internet website. An Internet search indicated that the tablet type and imprint were consistent with a pharmaceutical phentermine product. However, although most of the tablets appeared to be in good condition, a number of fragments and powder from broken tablets was noted, and subsequent handling showed that the tablets were not properly compressed and crumbled easily, suggesting that the tablets were not a legitimate pharmaceutical product. Analysis of the tablets (weight not determined) by UV and GC/MS indicated not phentermine but rather only acetaminophen. This submission is this laboratory’s first encounter with counterfeit phentermine tablets. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - HEROIN
PELLETS
SMUGGLED
FROM ECUADOR
INSIDE
COOKIE
PACKAGES
The DEA Northeast Laboratory (New York, New York) recently received 12 large packages of chocolate wafer-style cookies, each containing 6 smaller sleeve packages, most containing 7 pellets of a tan colored, compressed powder, suspected heroin (see Photos 3 and 4, next page). The exhibits were seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel from the luggage of a passenger arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport (New Jersey) on a flight from Guayaquil, Ecuador. The pellets appeared to be quite similar to those typically recovered from “swallowers,” and were 1 1/2 x 5/8 inches and wrapped in a combination of wax paper and clear plastic. Analysis of the powder (total net mass 4.19 kilograms in 500 pellets) by color testing, GC/FID, GC/MS, and FTIR/ATR confirmed 70 percent heroin hydrochloride, adulterated with caffeine. The Northeast Laboratory routinely receives heroin concealed in various types of containers and packaging, including within candies and inside candy wrappers. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - VERY LARGE BLACK TAR HEROIN SEIZURE IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
The DEA Southwest Laboratory (Vista, California) recently received 8 large packages containing dark brown materials, suspected black tar heroin. The packages were marked with either a smiling sunshine logo or the word “Mayey,” and were wrapped either in brown tape or cellophane and carbon paper (see Photos 5 and 6). The exhibits were part of a polydrug seizure made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a residence in Anaheim; in addition to more packages of the brown powder, about 15 kilograms of marijuana, 1.5 kilograms of dimethylsulfone, and sodium hydroxide were also seized. Analysis of the material (total net mass in the 8 submitted exhibits 31.82 kilograms) by FTIR/ATR, GC/FID, and GC/MSD confirmed heroin (calculated as the hydrochloride) varying from 5.2 - 12.7 percent, with most bricks also containing large amounts of noscapine (not quantitated). This was one of the largest ever seizures of black tar heroin in California history. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - KHAT IN DECATUR, GEORGIA
The DEA Southeast Laboratory (Miami, Florida) recently received a cardboard box containing 96 bundles of decomposing plant material, wrapped in banana leaves and layers of newspaper, apparent khat (see Photo 7). The exhibit was seized by agents from the DEA/Atlanta Field Division at a commercial carrier facility in Decatur, Georgia. Analysis of the leaves (total net mass 8,671 grams) by GC/MS confirmed cathinone (not quantitated). This was the first khat submission to the Southeast Laboratory in several years. Approximately one month after this first submission a second exhibit containing 71 bundles of similar material was seized at the same commercial carrier facility, and was also identified as khat (total net mass 5,545 grams; not quantitated). The shipping origin(s) for the exhibits was not reported. The last submission of khat to the Southeast Laboratory was in 1997. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE BRIEF - FOLLOWUP: “CHEESE” (HEROIN
ADULTERATED
WITH DIPHENHYDRAMINE In the May, 2006 issue of Microgram Bulletin, a Special Intelligence Brief reported on the phenomenon of “Cheese,” a so-called “starter form” of heroin that is popular primarily among Hispanic youth in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). At that time, analyses of “Cheese” samples showed that it contained acetaminophen, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and up to 8 percent heroin. It is now well established that “Cheese” is manufactured by mixing a small quantity of heroin (probably black tar heroin) with a large quantity of crushed Tylenol-PM® caplets (that is, an Over-the-Counter formulation of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine hydrochloride marketed as a sleep aid). Over the past year, “Cheese” has gained additional notoriety, with approximately 2 dozen major articles published in the mainstream media concerning its use. The DEA South Central Laboratory (Dallas, Texas) has recently analyzed numerous samples of “Cheese” provided by the DISD Police, using FTIR, GC/FID, and GC/MS (see Photo 8). The qualitative results for 15 such samples submitted to the laboratory in March 2007, are reported below.
Of the 15 samples, 9 appeared to meet the classic definition of “Cheese.” One sample contained only heroin, two contained 6-monoacetylmorphine instead of heroin (probably resulting from the decomposition of heroin in the original “Cheese” sample), two appeared to be “Cheese” that also contained a small amount of methamphetamine, and one had no controlled substances. The average heroin quant for these samples (calculated as the hydrochloride) was 2.0 percent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SELECTED REFERENCES [Selected references are a compilation of recent publications of presumed interest to forensic chemists. Unless otherwise stated, all listed citations are published in English. Abbreviated mailing address information duplicates that provided by the abstracting service. Patents and Proceedings are reported only by their Chemical Abstracts citation number.]
Additional References of Possible Interest:
Title:
CLIC 17th
Annual
Technical
Training
Seminar (First
Posting) Additional Details: September
4th: Hallucinogenic
Tryptamine
and Phenethylamine
Analogs
Workshop September
5th - 8th:
Seminar * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Position: Forensic
Scientist
(Chemist) (Third
Posting) Duties and Responsibilities: Independently analyze evidence to identify controlled substances utilizing scientific testing procedures. Perform analyses of chemicals seized in clandestine laboratories to determine methods of manufacture and products produced. Identify adulterants, poisons, and discrepancies in product formulations related to product tampering investigation. Maintain accurate chain of custody records on evidence examined. Prepare written reports, including documentation of analyses performed and final conclusions. Provide expert testimony in courts of law. Experienced in maintaining scientific equipment, including quality control documentation. Provide instruction to law enforcement officers regarding evidence collection and preservation. Review casework for accuracy and adherence to standard operating procedures. The ideal applicant will also be proficient in the application of ASTM methods used in the analysis of fire debris. Performs other duties as assigned. Qualifications: A minimum of a B.S. in Chemistry or related field with 3 years experience in a forensic laboratory specializing in the analysis of controlled substances. Additional experience in the analysis of fire debris is preferred. Contact:
Jim Hutchison,
Chemical
Analysis
Supervisor Applications may be obtained at: http://mt.gov/statejobs/statejobs.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [Computer Corner will return in a future issue of Microgram Bulletin.] |
