Análise dos adulterantes encontrados em amostras de cocaína apreendidas no Rio Grande do Norte no período de janeiro a junho de 2019

Abstract

Most of the cocaine seized in Rio Grande do Norte as well as in other Brazilian states is not 100% pure. In order to increase the profit of this illegal trade, traffickers dilute cocaine hydrochloride into inert substances with similar physical properties to narcotics, such as cornstarch and bicarbonate. As a result, there is a similar reduction in the effects of cocaine. In order to potentiate and / or mimic such effects, cocaine is added to easily obtainable, low-cost active drug substances called adulterants, such as caffeine and levamisole. Thus, the present work aims to identify the adulterants found in cocaine samples seized in the state from January to June 2019, as well as to compare two chromatographic techniques employed in this research, one of low cost and easy to reproduce, the chromatography layer. thin, and another with high resolution power and greater sensitivity, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The objective of the work is to build a database with the information collected during the research that can help the police intelligence service and the Government, in the adoption of strategies and policies to combat drug trafficking. In addition, there is still the intention to clarify and discuss the toxicological effects of these adulterants, considering their importance in the public health sphere.