Methods for Impurity Profiling of Heroin and Cocaine

To successfully counter the ever-growing drug problem, there is an increasing need, inter alia, to identify conspiracy links and trafficking routes and to gather background intelligence concerning both the number of sources of drugs and whether those sources are within a country or are internationally based and also the points of distribution and distribution networks. A scientific tool to complement routine law enforcement investigative work in this field is the characterization and impurity profiling of seized drugs. This manual reflects the discussions and conclusions of the Consultative Meeting held in Sydney, Australia in November 1999.