Problems of Forensic Sciences 2008 Vol. 75 (LXXV) 276-281
PERUVIAN FOODSTUFFS WITH COCAINE
Ewa JANOWSKA
Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow, Poland
Streszczenie
It is known that in some countries (e.g. Peru, Holland), foodstuffs containing substances such as cocaine and cannabinols, which in Poland are listed as controlled substances, are legally available. A case concerning analysis of cream-filled biscuits for the presence of cannabinols was recorded a dozen or so years ago at the Institute of Forensic Research (IFR). In another case, a person returning from Peru was arrested at a polish airport. Foodstuffs in the form of candies, instant tea, and pieces of green substance, whose original (Peruvian) names suggested that they could contain cocaine, were found on him. In connection with suspicion of smuggling of controlled (prohibited) substances, the material was delivered to the IFR. The material consisted of: Coca Toffee and Cocamelo sweets, two packets of Mate de Coca Zurit instant tea, and 4 pieces of green substance. The submitted evidences were examined for the presence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine by the high performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Separation was performed on a LiChroCART 125 × 4 mm column filled with LiChrospher RP Select B. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of acetonitrile and water with addition of o-phosphoric acid (0.1 ml/l). The flow rate was 1 ml/min and was carried out in gradient mode. On the basis of the performed analysis, cocaine and ben¬zoylecgonine were identified in the foodstuffs. Cocaine was indicated in the concentration range of 0.05 to 5.1 mg/g. Benzoylecgonine was also indicated in three materials in concentrations from 0.05 to 0.17 mg/g.
Słowa kluczowe
Cocaine; HPLC; Foodstuffs.