deas monthly zine on stolen drugs

[fnord]

Published by the Drug Enforcement Administration
Office of Forensic Sciences Washington, D.C. 20537

The U. S. Attorney General has determined that the publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of the public business required by the Department of Justice. Information, instructions, and disclaimers are published in the January issues.

February 2007

Photo 1
- INTELLIGENCE ALERT-

ECSTASY MIMIC TABLETS (CONTAINING KETAMINE AND
METHAMPHETAMINE) IN UKIAH AND EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

The California Department of Justice Forensic Laboratory in Eureka (approximately 250 miles north of San Francisco) recently received two separate submissions of identical tablets, blue in color and having the yin yang symbol logo on one face and half-scored on the obverse face, suspected Ecstasy (see Photo 1). The first submission (2 tablets) was seized in Ukiah (approximately 100 miles north of San Francisco) by the Ukiah Police, while the second submission (20 tablets) was seized in Eureka by the Eureka Police (circumstances not provided for either seizure). Analysis by GC/MS, however, indicated not MDMA but rather a mixture of ketamine and methamphetamine (not quantitated, but in approximately a 10:1 ratio based on the TIC). This is the first submission of ketamine in tablet form to the laboratory.

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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -
Photo 2

ECSTASY MIMIC TABLETS (CONTAINING N-(2,4,6-
TRIMETHYLPHENYL)-PHTHALIMIDE) IN OSAKA, JAPAN

The Forensic Science Laboratory of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters (Japan) recently received 11 mottled, brownish-pink tablets with an “S” logo, suspected Ecstasy (see Photo 2). The exhibits were seized by the Osaka Prefectural Police from two users in Osaka city. The tablets were 6.2 millimeters in diameter, 4.5 millimeters thick, and averaged 130 milligrams each. Analysis by color testing, TLC, and GC/MS, however, indicated no controlled substances. Additional analyses by GC/CI MS, LC/MS/MS and NMR analyses indicated N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phthalimide (approximately 15 milligrams/tablet) along with lesser amounts of one of its probable precursors, 2,4,6-trimethylaniline. Very little information is available concerning this compound; based on its structure, it may have a sedative effect (and the users so claimed). An internet search on N-phenyl-phthalimides indicates derivatives with herbicidal, anticancer, and other, rather obscure pharmaceutical activities - but no derivatives with any known abuse potential. To our knowledge, this is the first report of N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phthalimide in any clandestine sample. Since this submission, more than 300 tablets of the same kind have reportedly been seized in Osaka, Tokyo, Iwate, Kagawa, and several other Prefectures in Japan.
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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -

LARGE POLYDRUG SEIZURE NEAR SALEM, OREGON

The Oregon State Police Forensics Lab in Springfield recently received a multi-exhibit submission including 3 types of blotter papers (see Photos 3 and 4), 6 bags of powder (2 of which were labelled with printed stickers: “2-(4-Ethyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine” (2C-E)), a bottle of colorless liquid, 7 small vials of red liquid with an odor of strawberries (1 broken), 52 clear gelatin capsules containing a white powder, 16 pharmaceutical tablets (apparent oxycodone, several different formulations), and 44 Ecstasy-type tablets (17 different logos, see next page) sorted and bagged by logo type. The exhibits were seized by the Oregon State Police - Salem Area Patrol Office pursuant to a traffic stop, and (unusually) were found in a safe in the trunk of the vehicle. Marijuana and mushrooms were reportedly also seized, but were not submitted for analysis.

Analyses were done via color testing, GC/MS, and FTIR, as appropriate. None of the samples were quantitated. Analysis of the blotter papers confirmed LSD in one sample (72 units) and indicated 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-I) in the other two sample types (totalling 79 units). Of interest, one of the latter two blotter papers also contained trace amounts of MDMA and methamphetamine (both confirmed) and MDA and caffeine (neither confirmed). Two of the powders (total net mass 1.2 grams) were identified as MDMA, 2 (total net mass 4.93 grams) were consistent with 2C-I, and 2 were residues consistent with a mixture of 2C-I and 2C-E (these were the labelled bags). The colorless liquid (total net volume 100 milliliters) was identified as 1,4-butanediol. The red liquids in the small vials (approximate total net volume in the 6 intact vials 6 milliliters) and the powder in the gelatin tablets (gross mass 3.35 g) were all consistent with 2C-I. The logos and presumptive testing of the pharmaceutical tablets gave results that were consistent with oxycodone. Of the 17 different types of Ecstasy-type tablets, 4 were analyzed; all 4 contained MDMA and 1 also contained ketamine.

Photo 3

Photo 4

Blotter Papers

1: Fractal Face (72 Units); Analysis: LSD (see Photo 3)
2: Yellow Elephants (2-Sided Blotter Paper, 75 Units); Analysis: 2C-I (see Photo 4)
3: Multicolor (4 Units); Analysis: 2C-I and multiple trace compounds (photo not shown)

Ecstasy Logos

1: "RB," 8; Analysis: MDMA
2: Hammer, 3; Analysis: MDMA
3: "K&K," 3; Analysis: MDMA/Ketamine
4: "Fu," 4; Analysis: MDMA
5: Cobras, 2
6: Reclining Woman, 2
7: Pac-man, 2
8: Smiley, 2
9: Mitsubishi, 2
10: Adidas, 2
11: Puma, 2
12: Dolphin, 2
13: X-Box, 3
14: Omega (Greek letter), 1
15: Musical Note, 2
16: (Illegible)
17: (Illegible)

This is believed to be the first submission of 1,4-butanediol to this laboratory, and the largest and also the most varied submission of 2C-I. The exhibits “consistent with” 2C-I and 2C-E were not confirmed due to lack of authenticated standards. LSD blotter paper submissions to the laboratory are uncommon. This laboratory has seen a distinct rise in the number of submissions of designer phenethylamines and tryptamines (both controlled and non controlled) over the past two years.

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Photo 5

- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -

HEROIN SOLUTIONS IN JUICE BOXES AT JFK AIRPORT
The DEA Northeast Laboratory (New York, New York) recently received 14 juice boxes suspected of containing heroin solutions (see Photo 5). The exhibits were seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement from a passenger arriving at JFK International Airport (details sensitive). Analysis of the liquid (total net volume 3169 milliliters) by GC/FID, NMR, GC/MS, and FTIR/ATR confirmed 52 percent heroin hydrochloride. The Northeast Laboratory routinely receives exhibits containing cocaine solutions, but rarely receives exhibits containing heroin solutions.



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- INTELLIGENCE ALERT -

CAFFEINE/LIDOCAINE MIXTURES (CONTAINING
TRACE HEROIN) IN FONTANA, CALIFORNIA

Photo 6

The DEA Southwest Laboratory (Vista, California) recently received two exhibits, one a tan powder (total net mass 3,111 grams) and the other a tan paste (total net mass 1,039 grams), both having a distinct vinegar odor, that field-tested positive for cocaine (see Photo 6). The exhibits were seized by DEA personnel pursuant to the execution of a state search warrant at a residence in Fontana, California (approximately 10 miles west of San Bernardino). Preliminary analysis by FTIR/ATR, GC, and GC/MS, however, indicated not cocaine but rather a mixture of caffeine and lidocaine, possibly containing trace heroin. Dissolution of a small portion of each exhibit in 2.8 N HCl solution, followed by extraction with chloroform, with secondary analysis of the extract with GC and GC/MS, confirmed heroin (approximately 0.08 percent in the powder and 0.15 percent in the paste). It is unknown whether the exhibits were intended for use as cutting agents, or were designed as sham narcotics, or for some other purpose.

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- INTELLIGENCE BRIEF -

VERY LARGE SEIZURE OF "ICE" METHAMPHETAMINE IN GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA
Photo 7

The DEA Southeast Laboratory (Miami, Florida) recently received 14 boxes of cellophane-wrapped bales of tape wrapped Tupperware® containers of crystalline material, suspected “Ice” methamphetamine (see Photos 7 - 9). There were two different sizes of containers, 8 x 5 x inches and 5 x 5 x 2 inches. The exhibits were seized by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms personnel pursuant to the execution of a search warrant in Gainesville, Georgia (no further details). Analysis of the material (total net mass 125.9 kilograms) by GC/FID, NMR, Raman, GC/MS, and FTIR confirmed 85 percent methamphetamine hydrochloride, cut with dimethyl sulfone (DMS, not quantitated). This is the first submission of “Ice” methamphetamine in this type of packaging, and is also one of the largest ever submissions of “Ice” methamphetamine, to the Southeast Laboratory.



Photo 8

Photo 9

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- INTELLIGENCE BRIEF -

LARGE QUANTITIES OF VERY HIGH PURITY "ICE" METHAMPHETAMINE
BEING ENCOUNTERED ALONG THE MEXICO/TEXAS BORDER

The DEA South Central Laboratory (Dallas, Texas) has recently received several submissions of large quantities of unusually pure d-methamphetamine HCl (“Ice”). The submissions are from seizures made along the Mexico/Texas border by personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, and/or the DEA. Three recent such seizures included: A) Pharr - 11.04 kilograms, 99.6+ percent; B) Eagle Pass - 7.56 kilograms, 99.0 percent; and C) Sarita - 27.08 kilograms, 99.8 percent. Analyses were conducted with a combination of GC/MS, FTIR, NMR, and HPLC. While these are not the first submissions of this type to the laboratory, it is very unusual for this laboratory to have multiple submissions of 99 percent plus purity “Ice” methamphetamine in such large quantities.

[Editor’s Comment: Restrictions on the domestic sales of ephedrine- and pseudoephedrine-containing products have had a significant impact on small-scale, domestic production of methamphetamine. As a result, Mexican-based Drug Trafficking Organizations have moved quickly to fill the void with increased production of “Ice” methamphetamine.]

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- FOLLOWUP / CLARIFICATION -
Photo 10

BLOTTER ACID MIMICS (CONTAINING
4-BROMO-2,5-DIMETHOXYAMPHETAMINE
(DOB)) IN CONCORD, CALIFORNIA

Sir: The “ornate wheel-burst pattern surrounding a heart” logo pictured in the above referenced Intelligence Alert (Microgram Bulletin 2006;39(11):136; see Photo 10) is a variation of the logo of a large techno event in Germany, the Loveparade; see: http://www.loveparade.net

F. Padjen (Germany)