The profiling of MDMA tablets: a study of the combination of physical characteristics and organic impurities as sources of information

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_37F586E8C73A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The profiling of MDMA tablets: a study of the combination of physical characteristics and organic impurities as sources of information
Journal
Forensic Science International
Author(s)
Milliet Q., Weyermann C., Esseiva P.
ISSN
1872-6283 (electronique)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
05/2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
187
Number
1-3
Pages
58-65
Language
english
Abstract
The profiling of MDMA tablets can be carried out using different sets of characteristics. The first type of measurements performed on MDMA tablets are physical characteristics (i.e. post-tabletting characteristics). They yield preliminary profiling data that may be valuable in a first stage for investigation purposes. However organic impurities (i.e. pre-tabletting characteristics) are generally considered to bring more reliable information, particularly for presentation of evidence in court. This work aimed therefore at evaluating the added value of combining pre-tabletting characteristics and post-tabletting characteristics of seized MDMA tablets. In approximately half of the investigated cases, the post-tabletting links were confirmed with organic impurities analyses. In the remaining cases, post-tabletting batches (post-TBs) were divided in several pre-tabletting batches (pre-TBs), thus supporting the hypothesis that several production batches of MDMA powder (pre-TBs) were used to produce one single post-TB (i.e. tablets having the same shape, diameter, thickness, weight and score; but different organic impurities composition). In view of the obtained results, the hypotheses were discussed through illustrating examples. In conclusion, both sets of characteristics were found relevant alone and combined together. They actually provide distinct information about MDMA illicit production and trafficking.
Keywords
Drug profiling , Organic impurities , Physical characteristics , GC-MS
Create date
27/02/2009 8:37
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:26
Usage data