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LSD BLOTTER ACID MIMICS (CONTAINING 4-BROMO-2,5-DIMETHOXY-
The Iowa Criminalistics Laboratory (Ankeny, Iowa) recently received two full and two half pieces of blotter paper, 6 millimeters square, with unusual designs on both sides, suspected LSD “blotter acid” (see Photo 1 for the “blue side” and Photo 2 for the “green side”). “Blotter acid” with patterns on both sides is uncommon. The exhibits were seized in Ames by the Ames Police (circumstances unknown; Ames is located in central Iowa). Analysis of extracts by PDMAB (negative), Marquis (green), TLC, and GC/MS, however, indicated not LSD but rather 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine (DOB) (not quantitated, but a moderate loading based on the GC/MS). This was the laboratory’s first encounter with DOB in any form. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - COUNTERFEIT LETROZOLE AND UNUSUAL TESTOSTERONE
The Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory (Rochester, New York) recently received a polydrug submission including: A) An unlabeled baggie containing 17 pink tablets, submitted as suspected “Fumara” [sic] (see Photo 3); B) two factory-sealed 10 milliliter bottles labeled "Testosterone Propionate 125 mg/ml" (see Photo 4); and C) a baggie with 2 grams of marijuana. The exhibits were seized in Rochester by a local law enforcement agency (details not available). Each of the pink tablets weighed 250 milligrams, was flat and rectangular, measured 12 x 6 x 2 millimeters, and was scored and indented in the middle. Analysis of a basic extract by GC/MS identified Letrozole, a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor sold as Femara. Pharmaceutical Femara is sole-source marketed as a round, dark yellow, film coated, slightly biconvex tablet imprinted with [FV] on one side and [CG] on the reverse, containing 2.5 milligrams of Letrozole. It is prescribed for the treatment of breast cancer in women, and acts by inhibiting the conversion of androgens to estrogens. Males abusing anabolic steroids are known to take aromatize inhibitors to inhibit gynecomastia (male breast development). This is the first submission of Letrozole to the laboratory, and is also (according to the manufacturer) the first Femara counterfeit to be identified anywhere.
The Testosterone Propionate vials were also interesting. Upon removal of the crimp seal and stopper, some of the liquid immediately crystallized and settled to the bottom of the vial. Unusually, crystals also began forming in the unopened vial within two days. Analysis of the crystals from the opened vial by FTIR (see Photo 5) confirmed testosterone propionate. The listed company (blacked out on the photo) appears to be a foreign manufacturer. A tabulation of the 93 testosterone propionate products listed in Anabolics 2006 suggests that 125 milligrams/milliliter is an unusually high concentration of this steroid, and probably explains the observed spontaneous crystallization. The solutions were not formally quantitated. The laboratory has previously received various anabolic steroids. [Editor’s Note: For comprehensive analytical data for Letrozole, see: Geer LC, Hays PA. Letrozole (Femara). Microgram Journal 2003;1(3-4):190.] * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - ECSTASY COMBINATION TABLETS (CONTAINING MDMA, AND
The Seized Materials Laboratory of the General State Chemical Laboratory's 2nd Chemical Division of Thessaloniki, Greece recently received two submissions of white tablets with a “Shark” logo, both suspected MDMA (see Photo 6). The first (156 tablets) was from the Drugs Combat Subdivision of West Thessaloniki, while the second (11,151 tablets) was from the Police Department of Edessa (76 kilometers northwest of Thessaloniki); details on the seizures were unavailable. The tablets were 9 millimeters in diameter by 3 millimeters thick, and had an average mass of 299.6 milligrams. Analysis by color test (Marquis), GC/FID, and GC/MS indicated a mixture of 6.5 percent MDMA and 5.9 percent 3-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP; not confirmed due to the lack of a standard). This was the first submission of Ecstasy combination tablets of this composition to the laboratory; subsequently, however, the Seized Materials Laboratory of the 3rd Chemical Division of Athens reported the receipt of 100,760 of the same type tablets from two seizures made in Athens. [Editor’s Notes: These tablets are similar in appearance to those recently seized in Vernon Hills, Illinois (Microgram Bulletin 2006;39(10):123); however, the latter tablets contained mCPP but only trace MDMA.] * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - CHOCOLATE CANDY BAR MIMICS (CONTAINING OPIUM) FROM IRAN
The DEA Southwest Laboratory (Vista, California) recently received three exhibits containing a total of 148 chocolate bars, suspected to contain opium. The exhibits were seized by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents from within suitcases on a flight arriving at the Los Angeles International Airport from Iran. The bars had wrappings that were similar to those of two popular candy bars (see Photos 7 - 8). Each bar had a core of a very dark brown substance, that was wrapped in layers of clear plastic and carbon paper, which was then coated with chocolate (see Photo 9; the blue paper is the carbon paper). Analysis of the dark brown substance (total net mass 7.851 kilograms) by desorption electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry (DESI MS) and GC/MS identified morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine, and noscapine, confirming opium (quantitations not performed). The Southwest Laboratory has previously encountered raw opium that had been formed and wrapped to look like pieces of chocolate (see: Microgram Bulletin 2005;38(6):95); however, this was the first submission of opium that had been coated with chocolate. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - ECSTASY COMBINATION TABLETS (CONTAINING MDMA,
The DEA Southeast Laboratory (Miami, Florida) recently received two submissions totaling over 16,000 yellow tablets with two logo types, all suspected MDMA. Both submissions were seized in a combined operation by DEA Agents and the Miami Police, the first from an apartment in Miami, and the second from outside the Bayfront Mall in Miami. The first submission contained: A) 4,993 tablets with a superimposed “LV” logo, similar to the Louis Vuitton designer label (see Photo 10); and B) 4,720 tablets with a reclining woman logo (see Photo 11). The second submission contained C) 6,436 tablets also with the “LV” logo (same as in Photo 10). The tablets were all about 8 millimeters in diameter by 8 millimeters thick, and weighed approximately 280 milligrams each. Analyses by GC/FID, GC/MS, FTIR/ATR, Raman, and NMR confirmed a nearly identical mixture in all three sets of tablets: MDMA (30 milligrams/tablet), methamphetamine (7 milligrams/tablet), 3,4-methylenedioxydimethylamphetamine (MDDMA, trace), caffeine, and procaine (salt forms not determined). There has been a recent increase in this type of submission to the Southeast Laboratory, and both logo types have been previously (but only sporadically) encountered.
The DEA South Central Laboratory (Dallas, Texas) recently received 13 bricks of compressed, light brown powder with an embossed “CAPRICORNIO” over a Ram’s Head logo, suspected heroin (see Photo 12). The exhibits were seized by Customs and Border Protection Officers pursuant to a vehicle stop at the Laredo Point of Entry. Unusually, the bricks were compressed, sized, and wrapped (in tape) similarly to kilogram bricks of cocaine hydrochloride. Analysis of the compressed powder (total net mass 13 kilograms) by GC/MS, FTIR, and HPLC confirmed 84 percent heroin hydrochloride. This was the first submission of heroin compressed, sized, and packaged like cocaine kilogram bricks, and also the first submission of this logo type, to the South Central Laboratory. * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - PONCHO BUTTONS CONTAINING HEROIN IN NEW YORK
The DEA Northeast Laboratory (New York, New York) recently received three cloth ponchos with large, hollow buttons containing an off-white powder, suspected heroin (see Photos 13 and 14, both displayed oversize to show detail). The ponchos were seized in New York by agents from the DEA New York Field Division (circumstances sensitive). The ponchos contained a total of 78 buttons suspected of containing heroin. Analysis of the powder (total net mass 255.7 grams in 78 buttons) by color testing, GC/FID, GC/MS, and FTIR/ATR confirmed 67 percent heroin hydrochloride, and lidocaine. The Northeast Laboratory has encountered a very wide variety of concealment techniques, but this is the first ever exhibits where heroin was smuggled inside buttons. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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:
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