Advanced analysis of cocaine seized samples and their forensic implications

BURTON, GERARDO; SZYMCZAK, C. L.; ELICIO, P. D.; MOLINAS, M. F.; CASES, GABRIEL G.; AZNAREZ, JORGE ALFREDO; FERRARI, LUIS A.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 52nd Annual Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (52nd TIAFT); 2014

International Association of Forensic Toxicologists

Comunicación Oral OA22: Introduction. Detailed structural analysis of drugs seized in the streets is important not only to identify adulterant substances, that may have direct effects on the consumers health, but also to assist in interpreting evidence in criminal cases and in identifying ritual consumption (e.g. legally accepted chewing of coca leaves in NOA, northwest Argentina). At the present time, markers for coca leaves chewers were reported in order to differentiate cocaine active consumers from participants in this ancient practice (?coqueo?). Our study analyzed components of seized cocaine to examine this method of interpreting evidence. Materials and Methods. Seized samples were analyzed after dissolution and extraction assays were performed. Finally, the solutions and extracts were processed and analyzed by GC-MS, LC/TOF-MS/MS, 1H and 13C NMR and correlation spectra 1H-1H (COSY) and 1H-13C (HSQC & HMBC). Results. The samples contained almost 75% adulterants (caffeine, phenacetin, lidocaine and aminophenazone, found in decreasing order), 21.2% cocaine, 2.3% cinammoylcocaine and 2.3% of truxilines. Also, 10% of the total weight was sodium bicarbonate. Discussion. Detection of cinammoylcocaine and truxilines, in the percentages found, showed a deficient purification process during illicit preparation of cocaine. Investigators reported using components of Erytroxillum coca as biomarkers to distinguish ingestion of illicit cocaine and chewed coca leaves. Our results alert investigators to be cautious in choosing components for this purpose as some can be produced in the production of illicit cocaine.