Red Rock Opium Don’t Get Fooled by Bunk Ecstasy
Late Breaking News & Informaton
Reports have surfaced across the country concerning this new product. Supposedly users can receive an opium-like high from Red Rock Opium. Normally found in either a chunk (a hard reddish/brown chunk) or powder form (reddish/brown granular appearance), dealers will make reference to “chasing the dragon” when selling this product.
BUYER BEWARE! There is absolutely NO OPIUM in Red Rock Opium. This product is simply Dragons Blood Incense. Dragons Blood Incense can be purchased at any head shop, incense shop or on the internet for about $0.10 per gram. Dealers then resell this bogus product to unsuspecting buyers for about $10.00 per gram.
If you obtain any Red Rock Opium, forward it to the Crime Lab for verification that no substance is present. To learn more about Red Rock Opium, visit erowid.com. This web site will talk extensively about the product and provide images of what the substance looks like in both the chunk and powder form.
Many of you have seen multiple examples of Ecstasy over the past few years. Think about the various logos that have been stamped into these tablets. Have they been pressed onto one side or both sides of the tablet?
You have undoubtedly seen various score lines across one side of the tablet with the actual logo being displayed on ONE SIDE ONLY. Having talked with Crime Lab personnel and narcotic task forces across the country, we are now realizing these logos are in fact on one side only.
We mention this because dealers are now starting to pass off standard pharmaceutical tablets with logos as Ecstasy. The most recent example of this happened in Rochester, New York. A tablet, called “Remifemin” was sold to unsuspecting consumers as Ecstasy. This is a round, white tablet displaying a butterfly on both sides. Remifemin is actually designed to reduce the symptoms of menopause. Sold for approximately $20.00 per box of 60 tablets, dealers could sell one tablet and recover their entire investment. The next 59 tablets could be sold for market price at 100% profit. The consumer would simply be ripped off. Be aware, tablets displaying logos on both sides are probably bogus. Be careful and look at your buys carefully.
Specific Tests for Specific Substances
As time passes, we become more and more aware of the need to encourage Officers to use specific field tests when testing specific substances. This article will address this problem and demonstrate how we have subconsciously gravitated to that process in the testing of other popular substances. Too often we believe that these tests are “our probable cause” or that they “establish probable cause.” This could not be further from the truth. Remember, you must have your probable cause established prior to field testing. This usually entails factors like: it looks like, is sold as, is priced like, is packaged like a specific substance, or is sold by a dealer normally dealing in that particular substance. The first issue Officers must understand is that field tests are designed as confirmation of probable cause only.
Cocaine/Crack/Marijuana
When testing these popular substances, we have long followed the principles of a specific test for a specific substance. When we suspect Cocaine HCl (powder) or Cocaine Base (Crack), we head directly to the Cocaine Salts and Base Reagent (#904B pouch; #7613 tube). When we suspect a leafy material as Marijuana, we identify the THC using the Duquenois Levine Reagent (#908 pouch) or Duquenois Reagent (#7608 tube). What we do not do is start testing Cocaine HCl or Crack using the general screening test Marquis Reagent.
We understand that since the substance is suspected of being or has been represented as Cocaine HCl or Crack, we use the field test to simply confirm your probable cause. We do not use a general screening test to ensure we are on the right track. This method may, under very rare circumstances, allow for misinterpretation of a result, but those instances are extremely rare and can invariably be explained.
Methamphetamine/Amphetamine
Following these guidelines, we now move to the first of the specific substances we must change our thinking on. In the past, Officers have been satisfied to use the general screening test, Marquis Reagent, and determine the Flash Orange to Brown color within twelve (12) seconds to be either Amphetamine or Methamphetamine. Even though this is true, there is a much better and more specific method of testing.
When testing these two substances, we must first establish that persons manufacturing a substance using the P2P, Red Phosphorus (Red P) or Anhydrous Ammonia (Nazi) methods are trying to make Meth. The first method of P2P is the old biker method, which we do not see that often anymore. That leaves the other two methods.
Both the Red P and Nazi methods require one specific precursor to manufacture. This, of course, is Ephedrine (or Pseudoephedrine). If a person tries to make Meth using any other precursor, they will be unsuccessful. If they use Phenylpropanalamine (PPA), they will make Amphetamine. PPA was commonly found in many diet and cold tablets (same place we find Ephedrine) until the FDA removed the substance as an unacceptable product. It was deemed PPA caused an increased risk of stroke in women if too much of the substance was consumed. This explanation is meant to demonstrate that even though an individual has intentions of making Meth, if he starts with the wrong precursor, he could make Amphetamine instead.
It is generally accepted that no matter which of the three methods are used to manufacture Meth, it will be found in powder, chunk or liquid form. Let us now look at the tests and the testing procedure. The old standby was Marquis Reagent (#902 pouch, #7602 tube). The new method of testing is to use the Methamphetamine Reagent (#923 pouch, #7623 tube). The Marquis contains Sulphuric Acid, which may under the worst circumstances burn the skin or react violently if exposed to the wrong cutting agents (potassium chlorate). The Meth test, on the other hand, is water-based. This will not cause any burning or violent reaction no matter what cutting agents are added. Therefore, the Meth test is much safer for the Officer to use.
We have already established that the product they are striving to manufacturer is Meth. Therefore, rather than start with a general screening test which only establishes that we may have either Amphetamine or Meth, why not start with the specific test to identify the substance they are selling, Meth (immediate Dark Blue reaction). If they have made a mistake during the manufacturing process or started with the wrong precursor, the final outcome will not be Meth. Therefore, the Meth test will not react immediate Dark Blue, but instead will turn a Pink to a Reddish Brown color. Since this reaction does not agree with the color displayed on the front of the pouch (Dark Blue), we can make the determination that the substance IS NOT METH.
In this instance, we would then go back to Marquis Reagent and use this test as a safety net. If the substance then color reacts Orange to Brown within 12 seconds, we could make the determination it was either Amphetamine or Meth. We know from the specific test that it is not Meth, therefore, the substance must be Amphetamine.
MDMA – Ecstasy
We can now use the same reasoning established with Meth, to better test MDMA.
Only Methamphetamine and MDMA (Ecstasy) are secondary amines. The Meth/MDMA Reagent (#923 pouch and #7623 tube) only color reacts Dark Blue if a secondary amine is present. If the substance being tested is not a secondary amine, it will color react a Pink to a Reddish Brown. This color sequence does not identify the substance, but rather tells you that Meth or MDMA is not present.
Recall that Meth will be found in the common forms of powder, chunk or liquid. Ecstasy, on the other hand, is commonly sold in either tablet or capsule form. Even though MDMA is in another form during the manufacturing process and is then pressed into tablets or placed into capsules, it is uncommon to find this substance sold in any form other than tablets or capsules.
When Ecstasy was first introduced into the United States, most tablets were high grade MDMA and had few if any adulterants. However, today we are commonly finding any number of substances either sold as or added to MDMA to make up the illicit substance. We have commonly seen Methamphetamine, PCP, Caffeine, Guaifenesin and many other substances added to or substituted for MDMA. Therefore, we suggest you again use Marquis Reagent ONLY as a safety net.
Since only MDMA and Meth will color react Dark Blue, use the Meth/MDMA Reagent as your primary test. If the substance does not contain either of these, it will turn a Pink to a Reddish Brown color and you can proceed with the Marquis Reagent. If, however, a positive Dark Blue reaction occurs, you can stop testing and if found in tablet form and sold as Ecstasy, assume the substance is Ecstasy.
Understand you may run into the odd instance where someone has sold a tablet as Ecstasy. It looked like and was priced like Ecstasy.) Thespecific test turned Dark Blue and you concluded you had MDMA. However, upon Crime Lab results it was determined the substance was Methamphetamine (with possibly other adulterants added), but no MDMA was present. This may occur in very rare instances. You can tehn change your charge to the appropriate Methamphetamine charge, You also have a specific explanation if a Defense Attorney asked you how you could make such a mistake? You could explain that the suspect substance was tested using the specific test to identify secondary amines (MDMA and Methamphetamine). Since the substance was represented to you as being MDMA, was priced like and looked like MDMA (with the logo stamping), you drew the natural conclusion it was MDMA. The field test was used simply to confirm this probable cause.
If the color reaction within the Meth/MDMA Reagent was not positive, we would then proceed to the Marquis Reagent. If the color reaction within Marquis was a flash Orange to an immediate Dark Purple to Black color, you can determine the substance is MDMA – MDA – MDEA or some other analog of MDMA. By using the specific test first (Meth/MDMA Reagent) and obtaining a negative result, you can eliminate MDMA as one of the substances that may have turned the Marquis Reagent positive. You could then forward the suspect substance to the Crime Lab with the knowledge that this substance is not MDMA but possibly one of the analogs.
Heroin (White / Brown / Black Tar)
Testing for Heroin becomes even simpler than Meth and MDMA. Officers have long used the Marquis as the primary test for all forms of Heroin. Unfortunately, with the advent of so many new substances and their manufacturing through clandestine labs, we have to worry about far too many precursors and new nonscheduled substances.
Marquis Reagent turns an Orange slowly developing into a Purple color in the presence of Heroin. This color change can take up to 30-45 seconds to fully develop. However, noncontrolled substances like Guaifenesin (and close to 100 other substances) will also react in a similar manner. For this reason, Officers are far better served using the specific Mecke’s Reagent (#924 pouch, #7624 tube) rather than the general screening test Marquis. The Mecke’s test is a two ampoule test. The 1st ampoule must be agitated for 30 seconds, but any color generated is of no consequence. However, upon breakage of the 2nd ampoule, you will observe the slow development of a Green color with the presence of all Heroin.
The Mecke’s Reagent is designed to identify all forms of Heroin: white, brown and black tar. Due to the darker resins found in brown and black tar heroin, it is recommended to use less substance if the color of the substance is darker. Brown Heroin can be tested using the equivalent amount to 6-10 grains of Sweet and Low, Black Tar Heroin with as little as the equivalent to the period at the end of a sentence.
We recommend these testing procedures be followed when you test for any of the above substances. Remember, field tests are designed to confirm probable cause and if that probable cause suggests to you that a specific substance is present, head directly to that test. This will help you make more positive identifications and simplify the testing procedure and the interpretation of your final results. Always remember another important detail, if you are ever in doubt as to the results you have received, forward the substance to the Crime Lab and allow them to make the final determination.
Inconclusive vs. Negative
When you use field tests, be certain to use the correct language. Assume you have tested a substance for the suspected presence of Cocaine HCl. You are looking for the three (3) positive reactions of Blue presence, Pink solution and Pink over Blue solution, but you do not receive Blue presence in the 1st ampoule. This would suggest that Cocaine HCl is NOT present.
You are left with two options: redo the test using slightly more substance or send the suspect substance to the Crime Lab for analysis. If you were to retest the substance and the results remained the same (no Blue presence), you will still need to send the materials to the Crime Lab.
Here is where language becomes crucial. DO NOT use the word NEGATIVE when you write the findings in your report. Always use the word INCONCLUSIVE. By using inconclusive, you allow yourself to explain how possibly the Crime Lab was able to find Cocaine HCl in the sample. You can reason that the substance was possibly poor quality, you potentially did not mix the substance prior to testing, you tested only cut or you failed to agitate the test adequately to obtain a positive result. On the other hand if you use the term negative, there is no viable explanation as to how there was NO Cocaine HCl present at the time of submission but the Crime Lab found some.
A defense attorney may argue that Cocaine HCl was not present in the sample forwarded by you. However, due to his clients record or a desire by law enforcement to convict his client, he claims the Crime Lab substituted Cocaine HCl for the unknown substance you determined to be a negative. Obviously this argument is completely bogus to us. However, this is the type of argument a defense attorney would use to free his client. When writing your report, be careful to use the proper language ... always use the word INCONCLUSIVE, never use the word negative.
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