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Journal Article

Citation

van Nuijs AL, Maudens KE, Lambert WE, Van Calenbergh S, Risseeuw MDP, Van Hee P, Covaci A, Neels H. J. Forensic Sci. 2011; 57(1): 234-238.

Affiliation

Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium Laboratory of Toxicology, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Gent, Belgium Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Gent, Belgium Toxicology Laboratory, ZNA Stuivenberg, Lange Beeldekenstraat 267, 2060 Antwerp, Belgium.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01947.x

PMID

22040352

Abstract

Recent trends suggest that cocaine smugglers have become more and more inventive to avoid seizures of large amounts of cocaine transported between countries. We report a case of a mail parcel containing a dance pad which was seized at the Customs Department of Brussels Airport, Belgium. After investigation, the inside of the dance pad was found to contain a thick polymer, which tested positive for cocaine. Analysis was performed using a routine colorimetric swipe test, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The polymer was identified as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and contained 18% cocaine, corresponding to a street value of € 20,000. Laboratory experiments showed that cocaine could be easily extracted from the PVA matrix. This case report reveals a new smuggling technique for the transportation of large amounts of cocaine from one country to another.


Language: en

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