TEST PINPOINTS SOURCE OF DRUGS

A SCIENTIFIC test which identifies the origin of heroin on Australian
streets will be applied to other illicit drugs. The "DNA of drugs"
database has been used by the Australian Federal Police since 1998 to
identify the source of heroin sold in Australia.

Police said results of the program, funded under the National Illicit
Drug Strategy, had been used in more than 50 cases. Some results had
been used as court evidence.

Police now wants to use the technology to examine seized
amphetamines, which have become more popular than heroin.

AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty told The Sunday Telegraph police
scientists were developing a signature program for amphetamines.

"It's to determine, through laboratory work, exactly where it's
coming from" Mr Keelty said.

More than 280 signatures have been analysed by the AFP Forensic
Services and the Australian Forensic Drug Laboratory since the
database began at the end of 1998.

The program has so far identified the existence of a number of
sub-types of heroin from a single location. It was able to show that
South American heroin was being used in Australia. The data also
identified drugs from the Golden Triangle, which includes Burma, Laos
and Thailand.

The joint drug intelligence team also compiles the physical aspects
of drug seizures, including port of entry, packaging, markings/logos,
shape and colour, on to a national database.

A national heroin street survey is also being conducted across
Australia to match seized drugs against those on the streets.