Forensic Analysis of Heroin and Cocaine Seizures

Abstract

In the Section 'Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology' of the Swiss Society of Legal Medicine the group 'Forensic Chemistry' deals with the analysis of drugs of abuse. Some of the toxicology laboratories of the Swiss Institutes of Forensic Medicine also work in this field. The group organizes its own proficiency tests for heroin, cocaine, THC, and amphetamine/designer drugs. Statistics about the percentages of heroin and cocaine in all drugs of abuse seizures analyzed in the Swiss laboratories are published on a yearly basis as an aid to the police or the public prosecutor service. Members of the Group have prepared, by order and together with the Swiss Accreditation Service (metas), Guidelines for the accreditation of the laboratories performing drug of abuse testing. Laboratories which are equipped with an ion mobility spectrometer perform the analysis of trace amounts of heroin and cocaine on hands, hair, nails, clothes and other materials (e.g. bank notes).