Browsing by Author "Bentil, Edward"

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    Analysis of metal content of seized cocaine in Ghana
    (KNUST, 2018-11) Bentil, Edward
    The trafficking of cocaine has become a global challenge now and Ghana is no exception. Cocaine is a whitish powder, which is, produced both from natural and synthetic means. The aim of the project was to study the metal content of seized cocaine in Ghana and the data used for batch identification. Ten metals namely Pb, Cu, Mg, Mn, Cr, As, Ni, Fe, Co and Ca were analyzed in 37 cocaine samples which were sampled from seizures made from 2010 to 2014 and samples selected based on within-seizure and between-seizure classifications. Seized cocaine samples were obtained from Ghana Standards Authority by the help of Narcotic Control Board of Ghana. All seized illicit cocaine samples used were classified under natural cocaine. Analyses of the metals were done using ICP-MS and data analysis done using ANOVA at 95% confidence level. The results showed that, Calcium recorded the highest amount in all the samples with a mean ppm value of 64.94±54.60 with Magnesium, Zinc and Iron recording moderate amounts. All the samples analyzed contained Calcium since lime is known to be used as one of the additives in the production of cocaine. All the cocaine samples, which were sampled, based on within-seizure classification under class A showed no significant differences between each pair. With three sample pairs under class B in the within-seizure classification, one of the pairs, 103A and 105B showed no significant differences between them even though they were sampled from two different packages from the same seizure. Five samples from five different seizures also showed significant difference among them showing that they came from different batches or origin. It could be confirmed that seized cocaine contained some poisonous heavy metals like Lead, Arsenic and Chromium, which had amount that could affect the user. Based on the data gathered from the within-seizure class A group, it could be proposed that a missing cocaine could be identified by its metal content if no adulterants were added during the time it could not be found. With the information on the metal content of cocaine, the identity of seized cocaine can be achieved with the purity during forensic screening in order to protect the cocaine during investigations.