The analysis of ecstasy tablets in a forensic drug intelligence perspective

Details

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State: Public
Version: After imprimatur
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Serval ID
serval:BIB_R_5306
Type
PhD thesis: a PhD thesis.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The analysis of ecstasy tablets in a forensic drug intelligence perspective
Author(s)
Zingg C.
Director(s)
Margot P.
Institution details
Université de Lausanne, Faculté de droit et des sciences criminelles
Address
Décanat Droit BFSH1, 1015 Lausanne
Publication state
Accepted
Issued date
2005
Language
english
Number of pages
183
Notes
REROID:R003858804; 21 cm ill.
Abstract
The use by police services and inquiring agencies of forensic data in an intelligence perspective is still fragmentary and to some extent ignored. In order to increase the efficiency of criminal investigation to target illegal drug trafficking organisations and to provide valuable information about their methods, it is necessary to include and interpret objective drug analysis results already during the investigation phase. The value of visual, physical and chemical data of seized ecstasy tablets, as a support for criminal investigation on a strategic and tactical level has been investigated. In a first phase different characteristics of ecstasy tablets have been studied in order to define their relevance, variation, correlation and discriminating power in an intelligence perspective. During 5 years, over 1200 cases of ecstasy seizures (concerning about 150000 seized tablets) coming from different regions of Switzerland (City and Canton of Zurich, Cantons Ticino, Neuchâtel and Geneva) have been systematically recorded. This turned out to be a statistically representative database including large and small cases. During the second phase various comparison and clustering methods have been tested and evaluated, on the type and relevance of tablet characteristics, thus increasing knowledge about synthetic drugs, their manufacturing and trafficking. Finally analytical methodologies have been investigated and formalised, applying traditional intelligence methods. In this context classical tools, which are used in criminal analysis (like the I2 Analyst Notebook, I2 Ibase, ?) have been tested and adapted to address the specific need of forensic drug intelligence. The interpretation of these links provides valuable information about criminal organisations and their trafficking methods. In the final part of this thesis practical examples illustrate the use and value of such information.
Create date
09/12/2009 10:50
Last modification date
05/06/2020 5:20
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