Isotopic analysis of ¹³C as a tool for comparison and origin assignment of seized heroin samples
Besacier, F
Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, 40 rue Marius Berliet,69371 Lyon cedex 08, France.

Guilluy, R
Laboratoire d'Etudes Analytiques et Cinéiques du Médicament, Institutdes Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, 8 avenue Rockefeller,69373 Lyon cedex 08, France.

Brazier, JL
Laboratoire d'Etudes Analytiques et Cinéiques du Médicament, Institutdes Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, 8 avenue Rockefeller,69373 Lyon cedex 08, France.

Chaudron-Thozet, H
Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, 40 rue Marius Berliet,69371 Lyon cedex 08, France.

Girard, J
Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, 40 rue Marius Berliet,69371 Lyon cedex 08, France.

Lamotte, A
Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Lyon, 40 rue Marius Berliet,69371 Lyon cedex 08, France.


Abstract
The applicability of isotopic analysis of ¹³C for forensic purposes has been discussed in the case of heroin. The obtained results showed first that morphine acetylation induces an isotopic fractionation, so that the ¹³C enrichment of diacetylmorphine depends on both geographical origin of the sample and source of acetic anhydride used by the drug trafficker. That measurement can then be of great interest in the determination of common-batch samples (tactical intelligence purpose). Second, diacetylmorphine deacetylation has also been studied and it appeared that this deacetylation allows to relieve the enrichment from the acetylation-induced part. Therefore, measuring morphine ¹³C enrichment, from deacetylated heroin samples, can be useful for determining the geographical origin of the samples (strategic intelligence purpose). Moreover, measuring both diacetylmorphine and morphine ¹³C enrichments may help identify the source of acetic anhydride used by the drug trafficker, so that the fraudulent laboratory where the morphine samples have been acetylated.

Keywords:
abuse drugs, drugs of abuse, forensic science, heroin, isotopic analysis, origin assignment, toxicology

Paper ID: JFS423970429

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Author Besacier F, Guilluy R, Brazier JL, Chaudron-Thozet H, Girard J, Lamotte A Title Isotopic analysis of ¹³C as a tool for comparison and origin assignment of seized heroin samples Symposium , Committee on