Black powder drugs: an innovative response to drug control policy

Copper thiocyanato complexes and cocaine – a case of ‘black cocaine’

“…In contrast to the frequent description of black cocaine in popular media as being composed of cocaine, cobalt and ferric chloride, Fe III Cl 3 , cobalt was not found in this material. However, we cannot rule out that other derivatives of black cocaine contain cobalt, since the addition of Co 2+ disables analytical colour tests for cocaine and related alkaloid bases using Co 2+ and SCN − , [2] or Co 2+ alone . In the present case, the combination of Fe 3+ and SCN − will interfere surely with any type of colour test, due to the presence of the strongly coloured complexes [Fe(SCN) 3−x (L) 3+x ] x+ (x = 0, 1, 2; L = any ligand).…”

“…Thus, starting from 5 g of black powder containing 25% cocaine base, a total amount of up to 1.05 g of pure (99%) cocaine base could be recovered (yield determined gravimetically, purity determined by GC‐FID). The EDTA method for extraction of cocaine base from black powder has already been described …”

“…Further preliminary analysis of the black powder and the dried acetone extract by X‐ray fluorescence and infrared (IR) spectroscopy showed the presence of copper, iron, and thiocyanate. Ferric chloride and cobalt thiocyanate have already been described as components of so‐called black powder drugs . It is reasonable to assume that the substances added to the cocaine render many colour field tests futile …”

“…Ferric chloride and cobalt thiocyanate have already been described as components of so‐called black powder drugs . It is reasonable to assume that the substances added to the cocaine render many colour field tests futile …”

Evanescent wave fluorescence biosensors: Advances of the last decade

“…As indicated earlier, security and defense-related applications overlap considerably with other fields of use, as chemical and biological agents can be spread by multiple modes of dissemination (food, air, water), and therefore myriad sample types may be encountered; similarly, sample types used for drug testing can also vary from purified stocks to environmental samples to clinical fluids, depending on the intended purpose. Furthermore, the effects of other interfering materials – potentially used to mimic (Crighton et al 2012) or mask (Krebs et al 2000) the presence of target – must be accounted for.…”