Determination of δ13 CV-PDB and δ15NAIR values of cocaine from a big seizure in Germany by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

In this study, δ13CV- PDB and δ15NAIR values of 132 cocaine samples from a big seizure in Germany in 2002 were determined using elemental analyser isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The 1.2 tons of cocaine were packed in 1 kg packages and the cocaine bricks inside these packages showed certain logos. Twenty different logos could be identified. Results show a large variability among some samples, for δ15NAIR values ranging from-17 to -2 ‰. Furthermore, the possibility of linking samples with the same logo was checked. The results show that, in general, there is no relationship between the determined isotope ratio and a certain logo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]