Geo-location of heroin and cocaine by stable isotope ratios

Analyses of the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope Patios in heroin and coc aine samples obtained from different geographic regions indicated stable is otope ratio combinations that were strongly correlated with geographic loca tion, Further analyses of the isotope ratios of morphine derived from the d eacetylation of heroin exhibited more pronounced isotopic differences among regions, increasing its potential as a tool for gee-location and for sampl e-to-sample comparison. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.