Showing papers by "German Criminal Police Office published in 2005"

Development and evaluation of a standard method for the quantitative determination of elements in float glass samples by LA-ICP-MS.

Abstract: Forensic analysis of glass samples was performed in different laboratories within the NITE-CRIME (Natural Isotopes and Trace Elements in Criminalistics and Environmental Forensics) European Network, using a variety of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) systems. The main objective of the interlaboratory tests was to cross-validate the different combinations of laser ablation systems with different ICP-MS instruments. A first study using widely available samples, such as the NIST SRM 610 and NIST SRM 612 reference glasses, led to deviations in the determined concentrations for trace elements amongst the laboratories up to 60%. Extensive discussion among the laboratories and the production of new glass reference standards (FGS 1 and FGS 2) established an improved analytical protocol, which was tested on a well-characterized float glass sample (FG 10-1 from the BKA Wiesbaden collection). Subsequently, interlaboratory tests produced improved results for nearly all elements with a deviation of

New designer drug 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐ethylthio‐β‐phenethylamine (2C‐T‐2): studies on its metabolism and toxicological detection in rat urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Abstract: Studies are described on the metabolism and toxicological analysis of the phenethylamine-derived designer drug 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylthio-beta-phenethylamine (2C-T-7) in rat urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The identified metabolites indicated that 2C-T-7 was metabolized by hydroxylation of the propyl side chain followed by N-acetylation and sulfoxidation and also by deamination followed by oxidation to the corresponding acid or by reduction to the corresponding alcohol. To a minor extent, 2C-T-7 was also metabolized by S-dealkylation followed by N-acetylation, S-methylation and sulfoxidation. The authors' systematic toxicological analysis (STA) procedure using full-scan GC/MS after acid hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction microwave-assisted acetylation allowed the detection of an intake of a dose of 2C-T-7 in rat urine that corresponds to a common drug users' dose. Assuming similar metabolism, the described STA procedure should be suitable for proof of an intake of 2C-T-7 in human urine.

Capillary electrophoresis‐laser induced fluorescence‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry: A case study

Abstract: The simultaneous hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) as a novel combined detection system for CE is presented. β-Carbolines were chosen as model analytes with a forensic background. Nonaqueous CE as well as conventional CE with an aqueous buffer system are compared concerning efficiency and obtainable detection limits. The distance between the optical detection window and the sprayer tip was minimized by placing the optical cell directly in front of the electrospray interface. Similar separation efficiencies for both detection modes could thus be obtained. No significant peak-broadening induced by the MS interface was observed. The high fluorescence quantum yield and the high proton affinity of the model analytes investigated resulted in limits of detection in the fg (nmol/L) range for both detection methods. The analysis of confiscated ayahuasca samples and ethanolic plant extracts revealed complementary selectivities for LIF and MS detection. Thus, it is possible to improve peak identification of the solutes investigated by the use of these two detection principles.

Determination of tryptamine derivatives in illicit synthetic drugs by capillary electrophoresis and ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence detection

Abstract: A method based on separation by capillary electrophoresis combined with UV-laser-induced fluorescence detection (Lambdaex = 266 nm) was developed for the determination of nine tryptamine derivatives of forensic interest and potential matrix constituents. The composition of the separation electrolyte was optimized with respect to the resolution of solutes of interest and to the sensitivity of fluorescence detection. Native alpha-cyclodextrin was employed as a complex forming modifier of the electrophoretic separation and fluorescence-enhancing agent. With the help of a stacking procedure, limits of detection of 0.1-6 microg/L for all analytes were obtained. The repeatability for the peak area (at a concentration of the analyte about 100 times the LOD) was less than 2.3% RSD. A second HPLC method was developed, and its analytical parameters were evaluated for an estimation of the accuracy of the CE-LIF method and for method comparison. The results of the determination of tryptamine derivatives in the samples of forensic interest obtained with the two independent methods are in good agreement.

Documentation of a heroin manufacturing process in Afghanistan

Abstract: The present article documents an authentic process of heroin manufacturing in Afghanistan: white heroin hydrochloride produced using simple equipment and a small quantity of chemicals. The quantities of chemicals actually used corresponded to the minimum needed for manufacturing heroin. The only organic solvent used was acetone, and only a very small quantity of it was used. Because the chemicals used in the demonstration were from actual seizures in Afghanistan, some of the chemicals had been disguised or repackaged by smugglers. Others had been put into labelled containers that proved to be counterfeit, and some glass containers used were not the original containers of the manufacturer displayed on the label. The brown heroin base prepared as an intermediate step in the process shares some of the characteristics of the South-West Asia type of heroin preparations often seized in Germany. The final product of the documented heroin manufacturing process was white heroin hydrochloride, which shares the key characteristics of the white heroin occasionally seized in Germany and other countries in Western Europe since 2000. The present article demonstrates that this kind of heroin can be produced in Afghanistan.

Maintenance of the ENFSI proficiency test program on identification of GSR by SEM/EDX (GSR2003).

Abstract: Within the framework of the ENFSI Expert Working Group "Firearms," every second year, a proficiency test on the detection and identification of GSR by SEM/EDX is carried out. This proficiency test is a development and extension of the previous proficiency test GSR2001. The test material was again designed by the organization panel and manufactured by an external company for SEM accessories. This time the participating laboratories were requested to determine the total number of PbSbBa containing particles on a test sample following their own laboratory specific methods of automated GSR particle search and detection by SEM/EDX. One synthetic particle sample (SPS) with artificial GSR particles was dispatched to all participants. This paper summarizes the results of the study and assesses the overall performance of the participating laboratories. Furthermore an extended statistical evaluation and a comparison with previous studies was carried out.

Role Expectations of the Police: An Analysis of 50 State Statutes

Abstract: While police scholars, practitioners and policy makers each have views on the primary roles of the police in society, their opinions tend to be diverse. Here, we have aimed to describe the current state of role expectations of the police from an analysis of 2002 statutes from all 50 US states. We have then compared our findings to those of Burton et al.'s (1993) similar study in an effort to determine change patterns in state statutes. The findings suggest that state laws from 2002 had a mixed law enforcement and peacekeeping approach to policing and provided more codified role expectations of the police than they did in 1993.

Historie, Aufgaben und Struktur der Identifizierungskommission des Bundeskriminalamts

Abstract: Artikel uber die Identifizierungskommission (IDKO) des Bundeskriminalamts (BKA) sind seit Jahren fester Bestandteil der Berichterstattung in den Medien nach Unglucksfallen und Katastrophen. Zumeist stehen dabei (nicht unberechtigt) Fragen zur psychischen Belastung der Mitarbeiter und der personlichen Bewaltigung dieser Ausnahmesituation im Vordergrund. Der nachfolgende Artikel mochte, losgelost vom aktuellen Einsatz der IDKO in Sudostasien, Aufbau- und Ablauforganisation sowie Arbeitsgrundsatze und Hintergrunde der IDKO vorstellen –, auch wenn in Thailand und Sri Lanka vieles anders war.