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Updated: Oct 3, 2026

Rapid High-throughput Species Identification of Botanical Material Using Direct Analysis in Real Time High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Published on: October 2, 2016
Detection of cocaine crystals dispersed on non- Erythroxylum herbs
Julio de Carvalho Ponce1, Luiz Ferreira Neves Neves Junior1, Ana Carolina Stosch da Silva1
1Seized Drugs Analysis Laboratory - Institute of Criminalistics - Superintendence of the Technical Scientific Police of the State of São Paulo, RuaMoncorvo Filho, 410, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
This case report deals with an unusual seized drugs case, in which cocaine, more commonly found in powder form or as crack cocaine, was found in herbs similar to those used to deliver synthetic cannabinoids. A comparison with expected physical appearance and chemical results for a genuine coca leaf is also presented.

