ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1978
Page Count: 8

High Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Dyes Encountered in Illicit Heroin Samples
Clark, AB
Forensic chemists, Southwest Regional Laboratory, Drug Enforcement Administration, Calif.

Miller, MD
Forensic chemists, Southwest Regional Laboratory, Drug Enforcement Administration, Calif.

(Received 25 February 1977; accepted 25 June 1977)

Abstract

Over the last several years an increasingly large number of illicit heroin samples of the brown variety have contained dyes. STRIDE data analysis for the time period from August 1974 to December 1975 indicates that coloring matter was detected in 26% of the brown heroin submissions to the Southwest Regional Laboratory in San Diego. Apparently a formulation of dyes is used in the heroin dilution process to disguise the addition of adulterants that are normally white in their natural state. The resultant mixture maintains a relatively dark color and the diluted product is more easily sold as a high quality brown heroin.

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Paper ID: JFS10648J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10648J
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