The Clandestine Drug Laboratory Situation in the United States

Abstract

Clandestine, or illegal, laboratories are operated by the criminal element to circumvent legal requirements with the goal of supplying drugs of abuse to the illicit market. Investigation of clandestine drug manufacturing laboratories is a high priority of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) because elimination of these laboratories will prevent drugs of abuse from reaching the illicit drug traffic. One of the important responsibilities of forensic chemists assisting in investigations of clandestine drug laboratories is to be familiar with the methods of synthesis being used by clandestine laboratory, operators. A review of clandestine laboratory seizures during the period of 1978 through 1981 will be provided to familiarize forensic chemists with current information on the types of laboratories being seized in the United States and the methods of synthesis being used.

A technique combining trifluoroacetyl derivatization and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to distinguish methamphetamine and its 4‐substituted analogs

“…[12] The same procedure as that used to obtain 4-FMA hydrochloride was carried out on 4-iodophenylacetone, which was used as the starting material to obtain 4-IMA hydrochloride (106 mg, 17%).…”

Convenient Method for Synthesis of l-Methamphetamine

“…Consequently, for the above mentioned purposes, it is necessary to synthesize l-MA. A few studies reported on the synthesis of MA from ephedrine (EP) 8) , phenyl 2  propanone ( P2P ) 9) , and phenylalanine (PHE) 10) . EP is easily prepared from natural products such as ephedra plants, and natural EP is in the l-form ((1S, 2R) (-) EP), which has the same stereochemical conˆguration as d-MA at the C 2 position.…”

Clandestine drug laboratories in Australia and the potential for harm

“…Fewer than 5% of cooks are estimated to have received an y formal training in synthetic chemistry, most picking up the ar t through apprenticeship and trade between co-operating networks. 22 Other trends include the subdivision of the manufacturing process between different locations to avoid detection by authorities. Associates without criminal records purchase large quantities of over-the-counter medications, being paid for their ef forts in methamphetamine, creating a cashless market.…”

“…30 That paper reported that the US Bureau of Narcotics had seized 95 illicit laboratories between 1967 and 1970. Frank (1983) reported that seizures between 1978 and 1981 increased to 751, but no mention was made of health threats. 22 Seizures increased in 1982 by 25%, but again emphasis was on the forensic rather than the health aspects.…”

“…Frank (1983) reported that seizures between 1978 and 1981 increased to 751, but no mention was made of health threats. 22 Seizures increased in 1982 by 25%, but again emphasis was on the forensic rather than the health aspects. 31 Although the potential risk to law enforcement agencies began to be recognised, little had filtered into the medical literature.…”