http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/programs/forensicsci/microgram/mg0108/mg0108.html
January 2008
- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
Photo 1
ECSTASY COMBINATION TABLET (CONTAINING METHAMPHETAMINE, BZP, TFMPP, MDMA, DIBENZYLPIPERAZINE, AND PROCAINE) IN CONCORD, CALIFORNIA
The Contra Costa County Sheriff - Coroner's Office Forensic Services Division Laboratory (Martinez, California) recently received a single blue tablet with an Iron Cross logo, approximately 9 millimeters in diameter, suspected Ecstasy (see Photo 1). The exhibit was seized from an individual in Concord by the Concord Police, pursuant to a local arrest for possession (no further details). Analysis of a basic petroleum ether extract by GC/MS indicated a complex mixture of methamphetamine, benzylpiperazine (BZP), trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), MDMA, 1,4-dibenzylpiperazine, and procaine (BZP not quantitated, but a moderate loading based on the TIC). This was the laboratory’s first encounter with a tablet with this logo, and also with BZP in any form.
[Editor’s Note: This also appears to be the first ever report of dibenzylpiperazine to Microgram.]
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
LARGE SEIZURE OF PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS AND MARIJUANA
IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MISSOURI
Photo 2
The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory (Jefferson City) recently received five medium sized suitcases, one containing three 5-gallon bags of dried mushrooms, one containing two 5-gallon bags of dried mushrooms, all presumed psilocybe mushrooms (see Photo 2), and three containing vacuum sealed plastic bags containing dried plant material, all presumed marijuana (no photos). The exhibits were seized in Montgomery County (about 80 miles west of St. Louis) by the Missouri State Highway Patrol - Troop F (no further details). Analysis of the mushrooms (total net mass 2.25 kilograms) by TLC and GC/MS confirmed psilocin (not quantitated). Analysis of the plant material (total net mass 5.40 kilograms) by microscopic examination, TLC, and modified Duquenois-Levine confirmed marijuana (THC not quantitated). The laboratory has previously seen similar exhibits, but this is believed to be the largest ever submission of psilocybe mushrooms to the laboratory.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
WOOD CHIPS IMPREGNATED WITH COCAINE IN BOLIVIA
Photo 3
The DEA Special Testing and Research Laboratory (Dulles, Virginia) recently received a submission of thin, brown wood chips from the DEA Cochabamba, Bolivia Resident Office, suspected to contain cocaine (see Photo 3). The exhibit (total net mass 16 grams) was a sample from a larger seizure made by the Bolivian National Police (location and details not provided). Analysis of a chloroform extract of the chips with GC, GC/MS, and FTIR/ATR confirmed 5.0 percent cocaine (relative to sample weight), calculated as the hydrochloride. This is the first submission of this type to the Special Testing and Research Laboratory.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
HEROIN SMUGGLED FROM BOGOTA TO MIAMI
IN AN OPERATIONAL LAPTOP COMPUTER
The DEA Northeast Laboratory (New York, New York) recently received a laptop computer and its external power supply, both containing concealed packages of beige powder, suspected heroin (see Photos 4 and 5, both displayed oversize to show detail). The exhibits were seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel from a passenger arriving at Miami’s International Airport from a flight originating from Bogota, Colombia. Unusually, the computer was apparently functional, with LED lights and fans operational when turned on. The laptop had four packages, each wrapped in tape and carbon paper, placed in the areas normally occupied by the second internal battery and the CD drive (both of which had been removed). The power supply contained a single, similarly wrapped package. Analysis of the powder (total net mass 520.9 grams) by GC/FID, GC/MS, and FTIR/ATR confirmed 67 percent heroin hydrochloride, adulterated with caffeine and thiamine (adulterants not quantitated). This was the first time the Northeast Laboratory has received a laptop that was apparently functional; however, a second such laptop has since been submitted to the laboratory.
[Editor’s Notes: There have been a number of reports to Microgram of non-functional computers and/or computer components being used to smuggle controlled substances. This is the first report of a partially operational computer used in this manner, and appears to be intended to take advantage of the common practice of passing electronics through airport security checkpoints once they have been shown to be “operational.”]
Photo 4 Photo 5
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
FRESH PEYOTE IN GOOCHLAND, VIRGINIA
The DEA Mid-Atlantic Laboratory (Largo, Maryland) recently received a box of tubers, suspected fresh peyote cacti (see Photo 6). The exhibit was seized in Goochland, Virginia by agents from the DEA Richmond District Office (Goochland is about 20 miles west-northwest of Richmond). Analysis of the material (total net mass 471.8 grams) by GC/FID and GC/MS confirmed mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine; not quantitated). This is the first submission of fresh peyote cacti to the Mid-Atlantic Laboratory.
Photo 6
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
ECSTASY MIMIC TABLETS (CONTAINING BZP, TFMPP, AND CAFFEINE)
IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
The DEA North Central Laboratory (Chicago, Illinois) recently received nine exhibits containing a total of 1432 tablets of varying colors and logos, all suspected MDMA (no photos). The exhibits were acquired via two purchases in Detroit by DEA and Task Force personnel (details sensitive). The tablets were all approximately 8 mm in diameter by 5 mm thick, and averaged 288 milligrams (ranging from 269 to 303 milligrams). The colors and logos included yellow tablets with Air Jordan logos, purple/blue tablets with Adidas logos, pink tablets with teddy bear logos, and pink tablets with a man’s head silhouette logo. Analysis of the tablets via GC/MS and GC/FID, however, indicated not MDMA but rather a mixture of benzylpiperazine (BZP), trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), and caffeine. The BZP was not formally quantitated, but was estimated to be 84 milligrams per tablet based on the GC/FID chromatogram (average of three different tablets). These were the first submissions of Ecstasy mimic tablets containing BZP to the North Central Laboratory in several years; however, since these submissions, the laboratory has seen an increase in tablets containing BZP, both with and without MDMA.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
LARGE SEIZURE OF MDMA POWDER IN OKANOGAN COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Photo 7
The DEA Western Laboratory (San Francisco, California) recently received 30 uniformly packaged one-gallon plastic bags containing a fluffy tan powder, suspected MDMA (see Photo 7; note that the smudge marks on the packages are smeared magic marker markings on the inner plastic bags). The exhibits were seized by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement personnel from a stash-site near a fixed wing aircraft that had abruptly landed at a makeshift airstrip in Okanogan County (central Washington) after entering U.S. airspace from Canada. Analysis of the powder (total net mass 29.89 kilograms) by color testing, IR, GC/FID, GC/MS, and HPLC confirmed 96 percent MDMA HCl. The Western Laboratory rarely receives MDMA powder exhibits of this size.
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