Pubdate: 2 Apr 1999 Source: Scotsman (UK) Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 1999 Contact: http://www.scotsman.com/ Forum: http://www.scotsman.com/ Author: Ian Smith GENETICS WILL HELP TRAP THE DRUG DEALERS Scientists develop vital aid in fight to curb traffickers A BREAKTHROUGH in DNA testing by Scottish scientists will help drug enforcement agencies to catch dealers anywhere in the world, it was revealed yesterday. The test not only shows when someone has been handling drugs, but by identifying the drug's unique genetic profile can pinpoint where in the world it came from. The information, when cross referenced with other police forces around the world, will help officers to establish the route by which the drug reached Scotland. Scientists at Strathclyde University in Glasgow have developed the test which can pick up drug molecules from the hands of people who have handling drugs. Although it has been in development for almost ten years, Dr Adrian Linacre, who has lead the research, has now cracked the process which identifies the drugs. He now hopes that the breakthrough could revolutionise the international policing of drug traffickers. At the moment the test is only capable of identifying cannabis, but the scientists know that with further development the technique will be applicable to any plant-based narcotic. The test will then be able to be used in investigating the trafficking of Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine. As different varieties of drugs grown in various places around the world have slightly differing DNA types, the route by which the drug has been smuggled can then be traced. The scientists are now seeking funding for the further research which would allow them to build a comprehensive database of the various DNA codes of different drugs by which international police forces would be able to co-operate in tracking smugglers. The technique would allow Scottish police officers to test someone who has been suspected of handling drugs, to input the information into a computer which would tell them where it came from. The information could also be fed into a police computer which would identify any other persons around the world who have also touched the same batch of drugs. The deceptively simple test involves the police wiping a cotton swab over a suspects hands and then passing it through a DNA testing machine. Dr Linacre is a biologist in the university's forensic department who has been working on the project for about ten years, including investing UKP5,000 of his own money in it over the past two years. He said he was confident the technique, once it had been refined, could play an important part in investigating drug traffickers. He said: "As far as I am aware this is the only test in the world which will be able to link plant-based batches of drugs. "I started off this research by thinking how indispensable to police forensics the use of human DNA identification had become. So I used the same technology in other areas of forensic science, including drug detection. Despite the process of purification the DNA profile remains the same and is clearly distinguishable." Dr Linacre is seeking UKP25,000 to employ a full time research assistant for two years to develop the test to its full potential. This would include turning the testing kit into a hand-held format small enough to be carried by police and customs and excise officers. He has approached police forces across Britain and the Scottish Office who have expressed interest in the development of the project. - --- MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski