A probabilistic approach to heroin signatures.
The probability density functions of amount ratios of compounds (total codeine/total morphine, 6-monoacetylemorphine/total morphine, papaverine/total morphine, and noscapine/total morphine) from the analysis of seized heroin, originating from known world regions (South East Asia, South West Asia, South America, Mexico) allows calculation of likelihood ratios for 'unknown' samples. Application of Bayes Theorem with a suitable prior probability, for example the frequency of a particular region in the database, leads to the probability that a particular profile comes from a given target region. Data from 2549 seizures of heroin at Australia's border illustrates the method, and results are compared with simple HS1 ratio approaches for assigning geographical origin. The method can be implemented in a spreadsheet and gives more refined intelligence of the origins of seized drugs than simple ranges.
Hibbert
D Brynn
DB
School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia. b.hibbert@unsw.edu.au
Blackmore
Danielle
D
Li
Jianfeng
J
Ebrahimi
Diako
D
Collins
Michael
M
Vujic
Sasha
S
Gavoyannis
Paul
P
D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003932:Heroin / Q000032:analysis*; D008800:Mexico; D013020:South America
D003932:Heroin