Forensic Narcotic Practicum: Analysis and Identification of Dangerous Drugs

Introduction and Learning Objectives

• Presenter: Manja Murni binti Che Kalid, Science Officer, Narcotics Division, Forensic Science Analysis Centre, Department of Chemistry Malaysia (Jabatan Kimia Malaysia).
• Target Audience: Students of the Forensic Science Study Program, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Academic Session 2025.
• Core Learning Objectives:   - Identification of the physical characteristics of dangerous drugs in Malaysia.   - Identification and understanding of the analytical processes involved in drug analysis.   - Acquisition of fundamental knowledge regarding dangerous drugs.   - Acquisition of foundational knowledge regarding analytical instrumentation.

Laboratory Safety Protocol during Practical Exercises

• Supervision: Experiments must never be performed without instructor supervision unless explicit permission has been granted.
• Dress Code and Personal Protection:   - Tie back long hair.   - Wear suitable gloves and goggles.   - Utilize lab coats and other necessary protective equipment.
• Emergency Preparedness:   - Familiarize yourself with the location of safety equipment (eye wash stations, fire extinguishers).   - Know emergency phone numbers (e.g., 911) to ensure quick access during an incident.
• Hazard Identification: Identify all hazardous materials before beginning laboratory procedures.
• Attention and Monitoring:   - Maintain focus while in the lab.   - Never leave lit Bunsen burners or active experiments unattended.
• Heat Safety:   - Exercise caution when handling hot glassware.   - Turn off all heating appliances when not in use.   - Keep flammable objects away from the workspace.
• Workspace Maintenance:   - Do not obstruct work areas, floors, or exits.   - Store coats, bags, and personal items in designated areas outside the lab.   - Do not block sink drains with debris.
• Waste and Cleanup:   - Properly dispose of broken glass or materials.   - Report all cuts, spills, and breakages to the instructor immediately.   - Clear the workspace and equipment after use; wash hands thoroughly.
• Prohibitions: No eating, drinking, or tasting of chemicals in the laboratory.

Role of the Narcotics Division, Department of Chemistry (Jabatan Kimia Malaysia)

• Primary Function: Receiving samples (drugs or chemicals) from enforcement agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Kastam), and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).
• Types of Analysis and Examination:   - Drugs listed under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.   - Chemicals potentially used in the illicit manufacture of drugs.   - Drug paraphernalia (equipment used for drug consumption or production).   - Personal items including clothing, swabs, nails, and paper found at crime scenes.
• Fieldwork: Conducting examinations on premises suspected of being used for illicit drug processing.
• Legal Authority (Punca Kuasa):   - Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Act 234): Includes regulations on drug dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 (Act 283).   - Poisons Act 1952 (Act 366): Includes Sale of Drugs Act 1952 (Act 368), Registration of Pharmacists Act 1951 (Act 371), and Medicines (Advertisement and Sale) Act 1956 (Act 290).

Classification and Categories of Drugs

• General Categories by Effect on Central Nervous System (CNS):   - Depressant: Slows down the functions of the CNS.   - Hallucinogens: Affect senses and alter the perception of sight, sound, taste, smell, or touch.   - Stimulants: Accelerate the functions of the CNS.
• Categorization by Origin:   - Natural: Opium (morphine, codeine), Cannabis, Daun Khat.   - Semi-Synthetic: Heroin and monoacetylmorphines.   - Synthetic: Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDMA.
• Detailed Effects and Examples:   - Depressants:     - Examples: Benzodiazepines, Ketamine, Opioids (heroin, morphine), Cannabis.     - Small Dose: Relaxation, calmness, pain relief.     - Large Dose: Sleepiness, nausea, loss of consciousness, death.   - Hallucinogens:     - Examples: Cannabis, Ketamine, LSD.     - Small Dose: Floating sensation, numbness, confusion, dizziness.     - Larger Dose: Hallucinations, anxiety, panic.   - Stimulants:     - Examples: Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDMA.     - Small Dose: Wakefulness, alertness, confidence, high energy.     - Larger Dose: Anxiety, seizures.

Forensic Analysis: Physical Examination

• Appearance of Controlled Substances:   - Granular Lumps/Powder:     - Heroin: White, creamy, pale grey, or other variants.     - Cocaine: White or off-white.   - Crystalline: Methamphetamine, Ketamine.   - Sticky Substances:     - Cannabis resin: Light brown to green, dark brown, or black.     - Raw opium: Dark brown or blackish.   - Plant Material: Cannabis, Ketum, Khat.   - Tablets:     - MDMA/Ecstasy: Various colors, logos, and shapes.     - Methamphetamine (e.g., Yaba): Often red or green.     - Benzodiazepines: Various appearances.     - New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): Wide variety.   - Liquid:     - Beverages: Often containing MDMA or ketamine.     - Liquid Methamphetamine.     - Cannabis Oil: Dark and thick.     - Ketum Drink (mitragynine): Green or brown.
• Microscopic Examination of Cannabis:   - Essential structures for identification: Simple hairs, Cystolith hairs, Glandular hairs, and Brown globular resin.

Chemical Analysis: Screening and Presumptive Testing

• Overview: Also known as chemical detection or spot tests.
• Principle: Based on qualitative chemical reactions targeting specific functional groups or chemical families.
• Characteristics: Indicative and non-specific; they do not provide absolute proof of the presence of a specific drug and require confirmation.
• Advantages:   - Rapid, simple, and reliable.   - Cost-effective (cheaper).   - Portable (small size, suited for field use).   - Uncomplicated and assists in deciding the direction of future analysis.
• Limitations:   - Not a confirmatory method; provides preliminary data only.   - Susceptible to interference from contaminants or cutting agents, which may produce unpredictable colors.   - Low purity drugs may result in slow or no color change.   - Developed primarily for "classic" drugs rather than modern New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).   - Drug combinations may interfere with the color reaction.

Specific Color Test Data

• Marquise Test:   - Opiates: Purple   - Methamphetamine: Orange   - MDMA: Black
• Frohde Test:   - Opiates: Purple   - Targets: Reacts with alkaloids (organic nitrogen-containing compounds).
• Janovsky Test:   - Ketamine: Purple ring   - Nimetazepam: Purple   - Benzodiazepines: Purple   - Mechanism: Reacts with the carbonyl group.
• Simon Test:   - Methamphetamine: Blue   - Mechanism: Reacts with secondary amines (e.g., Amphetamine, Meth, MDMA).
• Cobalt Thiocyanate Test:   - Cocaine: Blue   - Notice: May give false positive results for Diphenhydramine.
• Van Urk Test:   - Mitragynine (Ketum): Pink   - Mechanism: Reacts with the indoles group.

Confirmatory Analysis and Instrumentation

• Confirmatory Methods:   - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS).   - Gas Chromatography-Fourier Transform Infrared (GC-FTIR).   - Raman Spectroscopy.
• Chromatography Principle:   - A technique separating mixtures based on differences in partitioning behavior between a mobile phase (carrier gas) and a stationary phase (column material).   - Highly sensitive and effective for complex samples.
• Raman Spectroscopy Principle:   - Utilizes a powerful laser source passing through a medium.   - Molecules scatter a fraction of the beam; the difference in wavelength between incident and scattered radiation (the "shift") corresponds to the mid-infrared region.   - The shift depends on the specific chemical structure of the scattering molecules.   - Includes Rayleigh Scatter (same wavelength) and Raman Scatter (new wavelength).

Quantitative Analysis and Reference Data

• Quantitation Calculation: Percentage purity is calculated using the following formula:   - $\text{\% Purity} = \frac{\text{Flask Volume (ml)} \times \text{Instrument Reading} \times 100}{\text{Weight of Sample (mg)}}$
• Example Calculation (Slide 26):   - Flask Volume: $25\,ml$   - Weight of sample 1: $22.3\,mg$   - Instrument reading: $6.97160 \times 10^{-1} = 0.69716$   - Result: $\frac{25 \times 0.6971 \times 100}{22.3} = 78.1502\%$ (Maximum recorded 80.3%).
• Molecular Weight Table (Base/Salt Ratio):   - Heroin HCl.H2O: Base MW: $369.4$, Salt MW: $423.9$, Ratio: $0.8714$   - 6-MAM HCl: Base MW: $327.4$, Salt MW: $363.8$, Ratio: $0.8998$   - Morphine HCl: Base MW: $285.3$, Salt MW: $321.8$, Ratio: $0.8866$   - Morphine HCl (hydrate): Base MW: $303.4$ (monohydrate), Salt MW: $375.8$ (trihydrate), Ratio: $0.8073$   - Codeine HCl: Base MW: $299.4$, Salt MW: $335.8$, Ratio: $0.8916$   - Dihydrocodeine HCl: Base MW: $301.4$, Salt MW: $337.8$, Ratio: $0.8922$   - Dihydrocodeine tartrate: Base MW: $301.4$, Salt MW: $451.5$, Ratio: $0.6675$   - Methamphetamine HCl: Base MW: $149.2$, Salt MW: $185.7$, Ratio: $0.8037$   - MDMA HCl: Base MW: $193.2$, Salt MW: $229.7$, Ratio: $0.8411$   - MDEA HCl: Base MW: $207.3$, Salt MW: $243.8$, Ratio: $0.8502$   - MDA HCl: Base MW: $179.2$, Salt MW: $215.7$, Ratio: $0.8309$   - 2C-B hydrochloride: Base MW: $260.1$, Salt MW: $296.6$, Ratio: $0.8769$   - Amphetamine sulphate: Base MW: $135.22$, Salt MW: $368.5$, Ratio: $0.7338$   - Ketamine HCl: Base MW: $237.7$, Salt MW: $274.2$, Ratio: $0.8669$   - Nimetazepam: Base MW: $295.3$, Salt MW: $-$, Ratio: $-$   - Cocaine HCl: Base MW: $303.4$, Salt MW: $339.8$, Ratio: $0.8929$   - 1-Benzylpiperazine. 2HCl: Base MW: $176.2$, Salt MW: $249.2$, Ratio: $0.7071$   - TFMPP. HCl: Base MW: $230.2$, Salt MW: $266.7$, Ratio: $0.8631$