Stanley and Acetolysis: Enhanced Method for Pollen Identification and Geolocation of Cocaine Samples

Authors

  • Marina Milanello do Amaral Superintendence of the Technical-Scientific Police of the State of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Cynthia Ramos Institute of Geosciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Paulo Eduardo de Oliveira Institute of Geosciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Vanda Brito de Medeiros Institute of Geosciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Fábio Augusto da Silva Salvador Brazilian Federal Police, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
  • Raphaella Fernandes Rodrigues Federal University of São Carlos, SP, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17063/bjfs12(2)y2024207-215

Keywords:

Forensic palynology, Cocaine, Geolocation, Brazil, Drug trafficking

Abstract

The concept of palynological assemblage, a set of all identifiable pollen grains and spores, is very useful in geolocation determinations in Forensic Studies. To identify plant genera, palynologists must recognize detailed aspects of apertures, ornamentation and layers on the cell wall. Pollen and spores recovered from higher purity cocaine samples represent an alternative to indicate drug source regions. After following the method established by Stanley in 1992, we added the acetolysis procedure in samples seized by the Civil Police of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2017, in order to enhance morphological traits observation and taxonomical identification of different pollen taxa, allowing reliable environmental and geolocation reconstructions.

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Published

2024-09-04

How to Cite

Milanello do Amaral, M., Ramos, C., de Oliveira, P. E., Brito de Medeiros, V., da Silva Salvador, F. A., & Fernandes Rodrigues, R. (2024). Stanley and Acetolysis: Enhanced Method for Pollen Identification and Geolocation of Cocaine Samples. Brazilian Journal of Forensic Sciences, Medical Law and Bioethics, 12(2), 207–215. https://doi.org/10.17063/bjfs12(2)y2024207-215

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024): Volume 12 Issue 2

Section

Comunicação Breve

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Copyright (c) 2024 Brazilian Journal of Forensic Sciences, Medical Law and Bioethics

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