Chemical camouflage: illicit drug concealment using di-tert-butyldicarbonate

ABSTRACT

The addition of the protecting group di-tert-butyldicarbonate to an illicit drug, such as methamphetamine, forms a new N-tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC) derivative. By altering the chemical structure in this way, concealment of the drug can be achieved as routine detection techniques may not be able to identify the new substance. A recent seizure of a liquid at the New Zealand border was found to contain t-BOC-methamphetamine, indicating the use of this new concealment technique for the distribution and importation of illicit drugs.

KEYWORDS:

• T-BOC
• t-BOC-methamphetamine
• drug concealment

Acknowledgements

The New Zealand Forensic Science Society (NZFSS) branch of the Australian New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) and ESR provided financial support for the author to present this research at the ANZFSS 24th International Symposium.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.