Determination of delta13 CV-PDB and delta15NAIR values of cocaine from a big seizure in Germany by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

In this study, delta(13)C(V- PDB) and delta(15)N(AIR) 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 delta(15)N(AIR) values ranging from-17 to -2 per thousand. 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.