NCJ Number
236892
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 1588-1593
Date Published
November 2011
Length
6 pages
Annotation
An analytical procedure based upon extraction with organic solvent, liquid chromatography separation, and mass spectrometric detection allowed the identification of 21 drugs and metabolites in 120 used Euro banknotes collected in the Canary Islands (Spain).
Abstract
The social problems of drug abuse are a matter of increasing global problem. Nowadays, international agencies need fresh methods to monitor trends of the use of illicit drugs. In this sense, small amounts of drugs are transferred to banknotes and they could be detected and quantified. In the current study, most of the banknotes analyzed showed detectable drug residues (92.5 percent). Cocaine was the most frequently detected drug, present in approximately 90 percent of the samples. In addition, 75 percent, 35 percent, and 15 percent of the banknotes showed residues of amphetamine derivatives, opiates, and benzodiazepines, respectively. An average of three drug residues per banknote was detected. In summary, the presence of drug residues in banknotes could be useful as a tracer for the prevalence of drugs. (Published Abstract)