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A forensic case study: the detection of contraband drugs in carrier solutions by Raman spectroscopy

  1. A. D. Burnett1,
  2. H. G. M. Edwards2,
  3. M. D. Hargreaves2,
  4. T. Munshi2,*,
  5. K. Page2

Article first published online: 29 SEP 2010

DOI: 10.1002/dta.169

Issue

Drug Testing and Analysis

Drug Testing and Analysis

Special Issue: Illicit Drugs

Volume 3, Issue 9, pages 539–543, September 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Burnett, A. D., Edwards, H. G. M., Hargreaves, M. D., Munshi, T. and Page, K. (2011), A forensic case study: the detection of contraband drugs in carrier solutions by Raman spectroscopy. Drug Test Analysis, 3: 539–543. doi: 10.1002/dta.169

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds' Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

  2. 2

    Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK

*Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 SEP 2011
  2. Article first published online: 29 SEP 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 29 JUL 2010
  4. Manuscript Revised: 27 JUL 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 9 JUL 2010

Funded by

  • Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC). Grant Number: GR/S63052/61

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Keywords:

  • cocaine;
  • ethanol;
  • limits of detection;
  • Raman spectroscopy;
  • forensic

Recently, cocaine has been concealed by dissolving it in alcohol and then transporting it in solution through ports and airports. At the present time it is very difficult to detect cocaine in this form in these environments. However, it has been shown that Raman spectroscopy can successfully detect the presence of these drugs without removing specimens from their containers. Using two portable 785 nm instruments and a 1064 nm laboratory-based instrument, several common containers used in smuggling were analyzed with varying concentrations of cocaine in ethanol solutions. The presence of cocaine is detectable to about 6% w/v in most containers. Green glass presents a problem at 785 nm due to fluorescence but by switching to 1064 nm this can be removed. To apply this technique to real samples as met within law enforcement scenarios, cocaine was dissolved in a selection of dark and white rums including Lamb's Navy Rum™, Brugal Añejo™, Bacardi™ and Captain Morgan™; cocaine was detected in all these rum solutions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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