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| New tactic in war on cocaine gangs | New tactic in war on cocaine gangs |
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| By Mark Easton Home editor, BBC News Suppliers of cutting agents have started to attract Soca's attention | By Mark Easton Home editor, BBC News Suppliers of cutting agents have started to attract Soca's attention |
| Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is hoping the increased use of "cutting agents" to dilute powder cocaine is not only evidence of their own success, but also opens up a new front in the fight against drug gangs. | Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is hoping the increased use of "cutting agents" to dilute powder cocaine is not only evidence of their own success, but also opens up a new front in the fight against drug gangs. |
| "Project Kitley" is the codename of the SOCA operation designed to identify the buyers, distributors and users of the chemicals employed to bulk up cocaine. | "Project Kitley" is the codename of the SOCA operation designed to identify the buyers, distributors and users of the chemicals employed to bulk up cocaine. |
| According to the agency, the initiative has led to 72 separate arrests, seizures and other operations right across the UK. | According to the agency, the initiative has led to 72 separate arrests, seizures and other operations right across the UK. |
| One such operation is said to have led to the charging of a gang responsible for the main supplies of cocaine adulterants in the north of England and Scotland. | One such operation is said to have led to the charging of a gang responsible for the main supplies of cocaine adulterants in the north of England and Scotland. |
| We have seized 15 tonnes of cutting agents in the past year Trevor Pearce, SOCA Substances added to cocaine World cocaine market 'in retreat' class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2009/05/soca_and_coca.html">Mark Easton's blog: Soca and coca | |
| SOCA enforcement director Trevor Pearce says the agency is having some success in targeting importers and suppliers. | SOCA enforcement director Trevor Pearce says the agency is having some success in targeting importers and suppliers. |
| "We have seized 15 tonnes of cutting agents in the past year," he says. | "We have seized 15 tonnes of cutting agents in the past year," he says. |
| "This is really important because that would have been used to double up a similar quantity of cocaine." | "This is really important because that would have been used to double up a similar quantity of cocaine." |
| In the past, law enforcement agencies have tended to dismiss the cutting agents because possession of the chemicals themselves is legal. | In the past, law enforcement agencies have tended to dismiss the cutting agents because possession of the chemicals themselves is legal. |
| But SOCA is now using conspiracy laws to prosecute suppliers. | But SOCA is now using conspiracy laws to prosecute suppliers. |
| Click here to see a gallery of logos used by cocaine smugglers | |
| Pain killers | Pain killers |
| Every seizure of cocaine is now subjected to laboratory testing which reveals the "fingerprint" of the dealer - the quantities of cocaine hydrochloride and other chemicals in its make-up. | Every seizure of cocaine is now subjected to laboratory testing which reveals the "fingerprint" of the dealer - the quantities of cocaine hydrochloride and other chemicals in its make-up. |
| With this information, SOCA has been able to track cocaine distribution networks and has identified links between more than 170 seizures that would otherwise not have been connected. | With this information, SOCA has been able to track cocaine distribution networks and has identified links between more than 170 seizures that would otherwise not have been connected. |
| Among the most common cutting agents are pharmaceutical products which mimic the effect of cocaine, typically benzocaine and lignocaine. | Among the most common cutting agents are pharmaceutical products which mimic the effect of cocaine, typically benzocaine and lignocaine. |
| These are used to relieve pain in dentistry and in the veterinary field. | These are used to relieve pain in dentistry and in the veterinary field. |
| However, the analysis has also discovered a wide range of other adulterants that are mixed in with street cocaine, for example, boric acid, which is better known as an insecticide for cockroaches. | However, the analysis has also discovered a wide range of other adulterants that are mixed in with street cocaine, for example, boric acid, which is better known as an insecticide for cockroaches. |
| The second most commonly found cutting agent in police seizures of cocaine is tetramisole hydrochloride, which is used as a pet-worming powder. | The second most commonly found cutting agent in police seizures of cocaine is tetramisole hydrochloride, which is used as a pet-worming powder. |
| And cutting does not only happen at street level. | And cutting does not only happen at street level. |
| SOCA believes that some drug gangs are buying high-purity kilo blocks of cocaine, breaking them up and mixing them with other chemicals before re-pressing them and selling them on as top quality wholesale drugs. | SOCA believes that some drug gangs are buying high-purity kilo blocks of cocaine, breaking them up and mixing them with other chemicals before re-pressing them and selling them on as top quality wholesale drugs. |
| This may explain why there has been a reduction in the quality of cocaine seized by customs officers. | This may explain why there has been a reduction in the quality of cocaine seized by customs officers. |
| It also explains why smugglers brand their cocaine by putting logos on kilo blocks. | It also explains why smugglers brand their cocaine by putting logos on kilo blocks. |
| The Forensic Science Service and SOCA have assembled a gallery of cocaine "brands", such as Scorpion and Union Jack, as well as those featuring logos the gangs have hijacked from legitimate companies. | The Forensic Science Service and SOCA have assembled a gallery of cocaine "brands", such as Scorpion and Union Jack, as well as those featuring logos the gangs have hijacked from legitimate companies. |
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