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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT - “FLAVORED METHAMPHETAMINE” IN EVERETT, WASHINGTON
The DEA Western Laboratory (San Francisco, California) recently received a ziplock plastic bag containing a mixture of translucent crystals and tiny purple specks that had a distinct grape candy-like odor, purported to be “flavored methamphetamine” (see Photo 1). The exhibit was acquired by DEA Special Agents in Everett, Washington. Analysis of the exhibit (total net mass 26.7 grams) by FTIR, GC/MS, GC/IRD, and HPLC confirmed 1.1% methamphetamine (salt form undetermined), diluted with dimethylsulfone and sucrose; the sample appeared to be mostly dimethylsulfone, based on the FTIR spectrum. It is possible that the tiny purple specks in the exhibit were bits of a grape flavored candy or lollipop, but this was not formally determined. This is the first such submission to the Western Laboratory. [Editor’s Notes: “Flavored methamphetamine” (most notably “strawberry meth”) has received extensive and often alarmist coverage in the mass media over the past two years. However, this is the first confirmed sample of “flavored methamphetamine” submitted to a DEA laboratory, and is also the first such report by any laboratory to Microgram. A small number of exhibits with unusual colors have been submitted to the South Central Laboratory (Dallas, Texas) over the past two years; however, none of the latter samples had any noticeable fruit or candy-like odors. Several exhibits of “flavored cocaine” were reported by the Western Laboratory; see: “Flavored Cocaine” in Modesto, California. Microgram Bulletin 2008;41(7):60.] * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - ALPRAZOLAM MIMIC TABLETS (ACTUALLY CONTAINING EITHER MELATONIN OR AN UNUSUAL, NON-CONTROLLED BENZODIAZEPINE) IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (Pensacola Regional Operations Center) recently received multiple submissions of apparent Sandoz 2 milligram alprazolam tablets. The tablets were white, rectangular, imprinted with the “GG 2 4 9” logo, and came in two different weights, either 0.21 grams each (see Photo 2) or 0.38 grams each (see Photo 3). The exhibits (containing from 1 - 35 tablets) were seized by various law enforcement agencies across northwestern Florida. Analysis by GC/MS, however, indicated no alprazolam in either tablet type. The lighter tablets contained a non-controlled benzodiazepine, tentatively identified as 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-bromo-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (not confirmed; not quantitated but approximately 1 - 2 milligrams based on the TIC). The heavier tablets contained melatonin (not confirmed; not quantitated but a high loading based on the TIC). These are the first ever pharmaceutical mimic tablets submitted to the FDLE laboratory system.
* * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - ECSTASY MIMIC TABLETS (ACTUALLY CONTAINING N-BENZYLPIPERAZINE (BZP), 1-(3-TRIFLUOROMETHYL)-PHENYLPIPERAZINE (TFMPP), AND CAFFEINE) IN FINDLAY, OHIO
* * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - MARIJUANA CONCEALED IN A TEDDY BEAR IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (Little Rock) recently received a teddy bear containing a package of plant material, suspected marijuana (see Photo 5). The exhibit was being shipped by an express parcel service, and was seized in Little Rock by the Little Rock Police Department. The bear had a strong odor of cologne or perfume, and the plant material was sealed in multiple ziplock plastic bags. Analysis of the plant material (total net mass 27.5 grams) by microscopy, TLC, and modified Duquenois-Levine test confirmed marijuana. This is the first submission of this type to the laboratory. [Editor’s Notes: The bear is about 12 inches long. The bag is quart-sized.]
* * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - FOODSTUFFS CONTAINING THC IN NAVAJO COUNTY, ARIZONA The Arizona Department of Public Safety - Northern Regional Crime Laboratory (Flagstaff) recently received a multi-exhibit submission including marijuana (490 grams), 50 small, intact marijuana plants, eight commercially packaged foodstuffs labelled “Incredible Edibles,” purported to contain THC (see Photo 6a), and four “home” packaged foodstuffs with lower quality labels, also purported to contain THC (see Photos 6 - 9). The exhibits were seized in Navajo County (northeast Arizona) by personnel from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (no further details). The labels on the Incredible Edibles exhibits included “eat or freeze by” dates, THC quantities, and weights (see Photo 6b). The “home” packaged foodstuffs were in ziplock plastic or cellophane bags, and their labels contained less specific information concerning content. Analysis by color testing (Duquenois-Levine - positive) and GC/MS of pet ether extracts confirmed THC in all 12 foodstuffs (not quantitated). These were the first submissions of THC-containing foodstuffs commercial packaging to the laboratory. Investigative intelligence indicated that the “Incredible Edibles” foodstuffs are products of a marijuana distributor in California. The sources of the “home” packaged items were not determined.
* * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - HEROIN TABLETS (FROM THE PHILLIPINES) AT THE SAN FRANCISCO (CALIFORNIA) INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Francisco Laboratory (California) recently received two vacuum-sealed plastic packages containing a combined total of 180 small, lightbrown/ tan tablets, 4 millimeters in diameter, unknowns/suspected controlled substance(s) (see Photo 10). The exhibits were seized by CBP Officers at the San Francisco International Airport Air Mail Center; both had been mailed from the Phillippines to individuals in Arizona and Minnesota, respectively (details sensitive). Analysis of the tablets (total net mass 11 grams) by GC/MS indicated heroin (not quantitated; salt form not determined). The laboratory has previously received heroin in capsule form, but this was the first submission of heroin in tablet form. The tablets are believed to be of clandestine origin. * * * * *
- INTELLIGENCE ALERT - UNUSUAL RACEMIC METHAMPHETAMINE SAMPLE IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN (LIKELY PREPARED BY A BOROHYDRIDE REDUCTION METHOD)
The Special Testing and Research Laboratory (Dulles, Virginia) recently received an evidence envelope containing a small amount of a pasty, orange colored material, suspected methamphetamine (see Photo 11). The sample was an exemplar from five kilogram-sized bricks seized in Detroit, Michigan, by Customs and Border Protection Officers, incidental to a search of vehicle entering from Canada. Analysis of the material (total net mass approximately 3 grams) by GC/MS and CE indicated a mixture of 78% d,l-methamphetamine hydrochloride and 16% 1-phenyl-2-propanol. Detailed profiling by GC/MS and ICP/MS confirmed the presence of marker impurities corresponding to a reductive amination route, and (unusually) an extremely high boron concentration. The collective results indicate synthesis via a reductive amination of 1-phenyl-2-propanone (phenylacetone, P2P) using sodium borohydride or a similar compound. This is the first such submission to the Special Testing and Research Laboratory. [Editor’s Notes: MDMA is typically prepared by clandestine chemists in Canada via reductive amination of 1-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-propanone (MDP2P) using sodium borohydride or sodium cyanoborohydride. Previous reports from Canadian law enforcement personnel have indicated that bulk quantities of MDP2P and P2P are occasionally co-smuggled into Canada. It would appear that this sample resulted from an attempted MDMA prep that used the wrong precursor (i.e., P2P). The contaminant 1-phenyl-2-propanol results from reduction of P2P, and the large amount of it (and the boron compounds) in the sample confirms a very poorly executed “cook.” The physiological consequences of abuse of methamphetamine contaminated with excessive 1-phenyl-2-propanol and boron compounds are unknown.] * * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - COCAINE SMUGGLED IN AN ANGEL STATUE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA The DEA Mid-Atlantic Laboratory (Largo, Maryland) recently received a statue of an angel that contained four plastic bags of white powder, suspected cocaine (see Photos 12 - 13). The exhibit was being shipped by an express parcel service, and was initially seized in Miami, Florida by Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel; it was submitted to the laboratory after a controlled delivery in the Washington, DC area. Analysis of the powder (total net mass 302.6 grams) by FT/IR, GC, and GC/MS confirmed 62.4% cocaine hydrochloride, adulterated with lidocaine and levamisole. The Mid-Atlantic Laboratory has previously received similar exhibits. [Editor’s Note: The brown-gray powder in Photo 13 is some of the cement mixture used to assemble and fill the statue.]
* * * * * - INTELLIGENCE ALERT - l-METHAMPHETAMINE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS The Austin (Texas) Police Department Chemistry Laboratory recently received two ziplock plastic bags, each containing a crystalline material, suspected methamphetamine (no photos). The exhibits were seized in Austin by the Austin Police Department (no further details). Analysis of the first exhibit (total net mass 20.13 grams) by FTIR, GC/MS, UV, and by GC/FID following derivatization with (S)-(-)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)prolyl chloride indicated 96% l-methamphetamine hydrochloride. Analysis of the second exhibit (total net mass 138.84 grams) by the same techniques indicated 72% l-methamphetamine hydrochloride. These are the first submissions of l-methamphetamine to the laboratory. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SELECTED REFERENCES [The Selected References section is 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.] 1. Bonilla DA, Penuela LF, Sierra N, Diaz JE, Rojas JH. Development and validation of an analytical methodology for cocaine hydrochloride determination in a synthetic polymer by ultraviolet spectrometry. Vitae 2008;15(1):103-12. [Editor’s Notes: The cocaine was extracted with 0.5 N H2SO4 and quantitated in the extraction solution at 233 nm. This article is written in Spanish. Contact: Seccion de Analitica, Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota A.A. 14490, Colombia.] 2. Frost N, Griffiths P. Assessing illicit drugs in wastewater - Potential and limitations of a new monitoring approach. Luxembourg: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2008. [Editor’s Notes: An overview and review (6 chapters from contributing authors). Contact: EMCDDA, Rua da Cruz de Santa Apolonia 23-25, 1149-045 Lisbon, Portugal.] 3. Gosav S, Dinica R, Praisler M. Choosing between GC-FTIR and GC-MS spectra for an efficient intelligent identification of illicit amphetamines. Journal of Molecular Structure 2008;887(1-3):269-78. [Editor’s Notes: Presents a comparative analysis between several Artificial Neural Network systems designed for the identification of illicit amphetamines based on their GC/FTIR and GC/MS spectra. Structure-activity relationships were incorporated into the knowledge base, allowing the systems to classify the amphetamines according to their toxicological activity (i.e., stimulant or hallucinogenic). The results show that GC-FTIR data are much more relevant for these classifications. Contact: Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, “Dunarea de Jos” University, 800201 Galati, Rom.] 4. LeBeau MA. Guidance for improved detection of drugs used to facilitate crimes. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 2008;30(2):229-33. [Editor’s Notes: A review, providing information on the manner in which drug-facilitated crimes occur, the drugs that are used, and recommendations to improve the detection of these drugs through toxicological analyses. Contact: FBI Laboratory, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quantico, VA 22135.] 5. Liu M, Song C, Qiao J, Wang Y. Component and purity of retail heroin and concentration ratio of morphine to codeine in urine of heroin abusers. Zhongguo Yaowu Yilaixing Zazhi 2007;16(5):386-9. [Editor’s Notes: Focus is toxicological, but includes basic analyses of 441 samples of street-level heroin. The composition of the heroin varied from 95.2% to 0%. The acetylcodeine varied from 89.3% to 1.6%. 25 samples contained more acetylcodeine than heroin. The toxicological results indicated that the ratio of morphine to codeine in the urine of heroin abusers was significantly different than the ratio of heroin to acetylcodeine in the retail heroin. This article is written in Chinese. Contact: School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Peop. Rep. China.] 6. Nie J, Wu H, Wang X, Zhang Y, Zhu S, Yu R. Determination of testosterone propionate in cosmetics using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence based on oxidation derivatization with the aid of second-order calibration methods. Analytica Chimica Acta 2008;628(1):24-32. [Editor’s Notes: The title technique was employed to analyze for testosterone propionate in several “complicated” cosmetics. Testosterone propionate was transformed into a highly fluorescent derivative (not specified) via oxidation with concentrated H2SO4. Contact: State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Peop. Rep. China 410082.] Additional References of Possible Interest: 1. Frisk T, Sandstroem N, Eng L, van der Wijngaart W, Maansson P, Stemme G. An integrated QCM-based narcotics sensing microsystem. Lab on a Chip 2008;8(10):1648-57. [Editor’s Notes: Presents the design, fabrication, and successful testing of a 14 × 14 × 4 mm3 “integrated electronic narcotics sensing system” (Note: QCM = quartz crystal microbalance). The system was tested on cocaine and MDMA, with successful detection down to 100 and 200 ngs, respectively. Contact: Microsystem Technology Lab, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Swed. (no further addressing information was provided).] 2. Tcheremissine OV. Is quetiapine a drug of abuse? Reexamining the issue of addiction. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2008;7(6):739-48. [Editor’s Notes: A minor review of the literature search from 1991 to mid-2008 (9 articles). Contact: Carolinas Health Care System - Behavioral Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, 501 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211.] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THE JOURNAL/TEXTBOOK COLLECTION EXCHANGE The Journal/Textbook Collection Exchange is a service intended to facilitate the transfer of unwanted journals and textbooks to forensic libraries or other Microgram subscribers. At present, this service is offered once a quarter (in January, April, July, and October). The current donations are listed below. The offers are First Come/First Serve (except libraries have preference). There are no charges to the requestor. Please provide a full mailing address in the request. Important!: Do not provide an address that irradiates mail! Federal Code and Rules - 2007 Edition All subscribers are encouraged to donate surplus or unwanted items/collections. Reference texts and long runs of forensic/analytical journals are of particular interest; however, even single issues are worthwhile, and may fill a hole in an existing collection. If interested, please consult the Microgramwebsite or contact the Microgram Editor for further instructions. The next offering of journals and textbooks will be in the April 2009 issue of Microgram Bulletin. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THE DEA FY 2009 STATE AND LOCAL FORENSIC CHEMISTS SEMINAR SCHEDULE The remaining FY 2009 schedule for the State and Local Forensic Chemists Seminar is as follows: March 2-6, 2009 The school is open only to forensic chemists working for law enforcement agencies, and is intended for * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Microgram email Address Change Effective January 1st, 2009 the email address for the Microgram Editor will be: DEA-Microgram-2009 -at- mailsnare.net (Replace “ -at- ” with “@”) The current email address ( DEA-Microgram-2008 -at- mailsnare.net ) will be monitored until January 31st, 2009. An automated response will direct senders to the new address until April 1st, 2009, at which point the account will lapse. Important Notes to All Subscribers: All subscribers with filters on their accounts should immediately “whitelist” the DEA-Microgram-2009 -at- mailsnare.net email address. In addition, it is recommended that the current and previous email addresses used for Microgram ( DEA-Microgram-2008 -at- mailsnare.net ) be automatically filtered (blocked) after January 1st, 2009. This address will no longer be used by Microgram after this date; therefore, any subsequent emails from these addresses will be spam - note that the Microgram email addresses are routinely “hijacked” and used to send spam, and this fraudulent use will continue and likely will increase in future years (it is not possible for the Microgram Editor to prevent or control this problem). All subscribers should notify their IT security personnel of all the above changes. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Information and Instructions for Microgram Bulletin [Editor’s Preface: The following information and instructions are derived from the Microgram website General Information Access to Microgram Bulletin Requests to be added to the email notification list should preferably be submitted via email to the
* The Full Name and Mailing Address of Submitting Laboratory or Office; Requests to be removed from the Microgram email notification list, or to change an existing email Email notification requests/changes are usually implemented within six weeks. Email Notifications (Additional Comments) Costs Submissions to Microgram Bulletin All submissions must be in English. Because Microgram Bulletin is unclassified, case sensitive Intelligence Alerts and Briefs are concise synopses of the physical and chemical characteristics of novel What laboratory did the analysis? (Full Name) In order to avoid confusion, if uncommon controlled substances are identified, the description should use Photographs should be provided as ATTACHMENTS, not as embedded images in documents. Jpeg Safety Alerts are urgent communiques to the Microgram Bulletin readership which give notice of a Selected Intelligence Briefs are reprinted (with permission) unclassified intelligence briefs of presumed Selected Literature References is a monthly compilation of reference citations of presumed interest to Meeting Announcements list upcoming meetings of presumed interest to the Microgram Bulletin Employment Opportunities lists job announcements of presumed interest to the Microgram Bulletin The Journal/Textbook Collection Exchange Requests for Microgram and/or Microgram Bulletin Archives, 1967 - 2002 All issues of Microgram (November 1967 - March 2002) and the first nine issues of its successor However, the entire collection, individual issues, or individual sections of issues (e.g., specific articles) DEA Headquarters Requests will be sent either by CD or in hard copy (photocopy), as appropriate. Note that requests made via email will not be honored. DISCLAIMERS 1) All material published in Microgram Bulletin is reviewed prior to publication. However, the 2) Due to the ease of scanning, copying, electronic manipulating, and/or reprinting, only the posted 3) WARNING!: Due to the often lengthy time delays between the actual dates of seizures and their * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
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