Detection of cocaine in cargo containers by high-volume vapor sampling: field test at Port of Miami

Pavel Neudorfl; Michael Hupe; Pierre Pilon; Andre H. Lawrence; Gerry Drolet; Chih-Wu Su; Stephen W. Rigdon; Terry D. Kunz; Syd Ulwick; David E. Hoglund; Jeff J. Wingo; Jack C. Demirgian; Patrick Shier

doi:10.1117/12.266784

17 February 1997 Detection of cocaine in cargo containers by high-volume vapor sampling: field test at Port of Miami

Pavel Neudorfl, Michael Hupe, Pierre Pilon, Andre H. Lawrence, Gerry Drolet, Chih-Wu Su, Stephen W. Rigdon, Terry D. Kunz, Syd Ulwick, David E. Hoglund, Jeff J. Wingo, Jack C. Demirgian, Patrick Shier

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2937, Chemistry- and Biology-Based Technologies for Contraband Detection; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.266784
Event: Enabling Technologies for Law Enforcement and Security, 1996, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

The use of marine containers is a well known smuggling method for large shipments of drugs. Such containers present an ideal method of smuggling as the examination method is time consuming, difficult and expensive for the importing community. At present, various methods are being studied for screening containers which would allow to rapidly distinguish between innocent and suspicious cargo. Air sampling is one such method. Air is withdrawn for the inside of containers and analyzed for telltale vapors uniquely associated with the drug. The attractive feature of the technique is that the containers could be sampled without destuffing and opening, since air could be conveniently withdrawn via ventilation ducts. In the present paper, the development of air sampling methodology for the detection of cocaine hydrochloride will be discussed, and the results from a recent field test will be presented. The results indicated that vapors of cocaine and its decomposition product, ecgonidine methyl ester, could serve as sensitive indicators of the presence of the drug in the containers.

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Pavel Neudorfl, Michael Hupe, Pierre Pilon, Andre H. Lawrence, Gerry Drolet, Chih-Wu Su, Stephen W. Rigdon, Terry D. Kunz, Syd Ulwick, David E. Hoglund, Jeff J. Wingo, Jack C. Demirgian, and Patrick Shier "Detection of cocaine in cargo containers by high-volume vapor sampling: field test at Port of Miami", Proc. SPIE 2937, Chemistry- and Biology-Based Technologies for Contraband Detection, (17 February 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.266784

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