-APRIL 2008-
- INTELLIGENCE ALERT-
RECORD SEIZURE OF PSILOCYBE MUSHROOMS
IN POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, IOWA
The Iowa Criminalistics Laboratory (Ankeny) recently received 199 large zip-lock plastic bags of dried mushrooms, suspected Psilocybe mushrooms (see Photo 1). The exhibits, originally packed in various boxes and large garbage bags, were seized by the Iowa State Patrol pursuant to a traffic stop of a large pickup truck on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County (southwestern Iowa). Analysis of the mushrooms (total net mass 92.96 kilograms) by TLC and GC/MS confirmed psilocin and psilocybin at a typical levels (not formally quantitated). This is the largest ever seizure of dry Psilocybe mushrooms in Iowa.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
AROMATHERAPY OIL (ACTUALLY CONTAINING A STEROID COCKTAIL)
IN HUMMELSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Photo 2
The Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Forensic Services, Harrisburg Regional Laboratory recently received a small package of purported aromatherapy oil, suspected to contain a mixture of anabolic steroids (see Photo 2). The package was seized at the residence of a known steroid abuser in Hummelstown (a small town between Harrisburg and Hershey), pursuant to a consent search by the Hummelstown Borough Police. The suspect in the case admitted to steroid abuse and indicated that the package actually contained “Sustanon” (which is a steroid cocktail containing the following testosterone esters: Propionate 30 milligrams, phenylpropionate 60 milligrams, isocaproate 60 milligrams, and decanoate 100 milligrams). The package markings included the website “821.in,” and indicated that the contents were Indian Aromatherapy Oils. The oil fluoresced when concentrated sulfuric acid was added and the resulting mixture was subjected to UV irradiation. Analysis of a methanol extract of the oil (total net volume 3.1 milliliters) by GC/MS confirmed testosterone propionate, cypionate, and decanoate in an approximate 4 : 3 : 1 ratio based on the TIC. The results indicated that the oil was not actually “Sustanon,” but rather a substitute or mimic steroid cocktail. This was the first submission of this type of packaging encountered anywhere within the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory system.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
VERY LARGE SEIZURE OF N-ISOPROPYLBENZYLAMINE
HYDROCHLORIDE IN BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
Photo 3 (Ruler is 12 Inch)
Photo 3 (Ruler is 12 Inch)
The DEA Western Laboratory (San Francisco, California) recently received 11 gallon-sized zip lock bags and two plastic containers, all containing white crystalline materials, presumed “Ice” methamphetamine (see Photos 3 and 4, next page). The exhibits were seized by DEA Special Agents from within a hidden electronic compartment in a van during a buy-bust operation in Bakersfield, California. Analysis of the crystals in one zip lock bag (total net mass 432.7 grams) by Raman, GC/MS, NMR, ATR, GC/IRD, LC/MS/MS, and CE identified 1.3 percent methamphetamine (isomer and salt undetermined) and N-isopropylbenzylamine hydrochloride (HCl; not quantitated but high purity). Analysis of the crystals in three zip lock bags (total net mass 1309 grams) by Raman, GC/MS, GC/FID, and ATR identified N-isopropylbenzylamine HCl (not quantitated but high purity) and trace dimethylsulfone. Analysis of the crystals in the other seven zip lock bags and the two containers (total net mass 3943 grams) by Raman, GC/MS, GC/FID, and ATR identified N-isopropylbenzylamine HCl (not quantitated but high purity). To date, this is the largest seizure of N-isopropylbenzylamine HCl submitted to the Western Laboratory.
Photo 4
Photo 4
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
OXYCODONE TABLETS SMUGGLED IN “D” BATTERIES
IN WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND
Photo 5
Photo 5
The DEA Northeast Laboratory (New York, New York) recently received four “D”-cell batteries, each packed with 12 short, aligned sections of plastic straws containing in total 624 orange colored tablets, suspected oxycodone (see Photo 5). The exhibits were seized in Warwick, Rhode Island, by personnel from the New England HIDTA Office (no further details). The tablets (total net mass 82.7 grams) were marked with a “40” on one face and an “EX” on the opposite face, and appeared to be a legitimate pharmaceutical product. Analysis by GC/MS, TLC, HPLC, GC/FID, and FTIR/ATR confirmed 41.4 milligrams of oxycodone per tablet (calculated as the hydrochloride). The Northeast Laboratory routinely receives tablets concealed in various materials, but this is the first submission of oxycodone tablets in “D”-cell batteries.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
CHOCOLATES CONTAINING TRIFLUOROMETHYLPHENYLPIPERAZINE
(TFMPP) IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
Photo 6
Photo 7
The DEA Southeast Laboratory (Miami, Florida) recently received 75 chocolates, purported to contain psilocybin (see Photo 6). The exhibits were obtained in Jacksonville, Florida, by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confidential source (details sensitive). Each chocolate had a smiley face on one side (see Photo 7), and was wrapped in red foil over wax paper. Visual inspection and subsequent workup did not indicate any mushroom parts in the chocolate. Analysis of methanol extracts of the chocolates (total net mass 1.2 kilograms) by GC/MS and GC/FID indicated not psilocybin (or psilocin) but rather 1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazine (TFMPP; not quantitated). This is the first known submission of chocolates containing TFMPP to the Southeast Laboratory .
[Editor’s Notes: TFMPP has some MDMA mimicking properties, and is commonly abused as such, usually in combination with benzylpiperazine (BZP). It was emergency scheduled (Schedule I) from September 2002 til March 2004; however, it is currently (April, 2008) not controlled.]
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
LARGE SEIZURE OF MDMA POWDER AT THE HIDALGO, TEXAS
PORT OF ENTRY
Photo 8
The DEA South Central Laboratory (Dallas, Texas) recently received two plastic packages containing a light brown powder that field-tested positive for heroin (see Photo 8). The exhibits were taped to the inner thighs of a male pedestrian attempting to enter the U.S. at the Hidalgo, Texas Port of Entry, and were seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel. Analysis of the powder (total net mass 1970.3 grams) by GC/MS, FTIR, NMR, and HPLC, however, indicated not heroin but rather 95.9 percent MDMA hydrochloride (HCl). This is the second largest ever submission of MDMA HCl powder to the South Central Laboratory.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
METHAMPHETAMINE BRICKS AT THE OTAY MESA, CALIFORNIA
PORT OF ENTRY
Photo 9
The DEA Southwest Laboratory (Vista, California) recently received a two-part submission consisting of: A) seven heat-sealed food-saver bags of crystalline material, apparent “Ice” methamphetamine, wrapped in black carbon paper, blue-colored grease, and plastic wrap; and B) 12 heat-sealed food-saver bags, each containing a small brick of compressed, off-white material, wet with toluene, wrapped in brown plastic tape, black plastic tape, and plastic wrap, suspected methamphetamine. The exhibits (see Photo 9) were seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel pursuant to a vehicle search at the Otay Mesa, California Port of Entry. Analysis of the crystalline material (total net mass 3068 grams) by GC, GC/MS, LC, and IR confirmed 95.1 percent d-methamphetamine hydrochloride. The bricks were approximately 4.5 inches square and 1.5 inches thick; six bricks had an impression of “Hecho en Mexico” (“Made in Mexico”) over and under an eagle head logo (see Photo 10), while the other six bricks had an impression of the face of a smiling monkey (see Photo 11). The latter design has been previously seen at the Southwest Laboratory, but always in such poor quality as to make a positive identification impossible. All 12 blocks had a rounded edge and a broken edge, and physical matching of the broken edges confirmed that the 12 small bricks were actually six larger bricks that had been broken in half, each reconstructed brick being approximately 9 inches long and 1.5 inches thick, with the “Hecho en Mexico” impression on one half and the smiling monkey impression on the other half. Analysis of the compressed material (total net mass 6115 grams after evaporation of the toluene) by GC, GC/MS, LC, and IR confirmed 95.6 percent d-methamphetamine hydrochloride. It is unclear why the bricks were broken in halves. The Southwest Laboratory has previously received similar bricks of compressed methamphetamine.
Photo 10
Photo 11
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