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Cocaine manufacturing quality and purity

Piper methysticum

Bluelighter
Joined
Nov 9, 2002
Messages
1,530
It is my understanding that there are two factors in what decides whether a certain batch of Cocaine is of high quality.

The most important is the way it is processed from Coca leaves. This is the manufacturing process. I'm guessing there are general methods to extracting it and different solvents used to do the extraction. Also, the more time you take to do a very careful and professional extraction using high quality (normally the most expensive) solvents, the better of a product you are going to come out with.

Next is the purity. Cocaine isn't +99% pure when it leaves the manufacturer. They cut it with inert powders and such for probably a few good reasons. Not only is it cut from the manufacturer, it is also cut going through the line of dealers before it gets to the user. Cocaine normally ranges anywhere from 15-90% in purity, and this also is a great factor in the quality. However, I have been told that if you have 50% pure Cocaine that was made extremely well that it will be better than 95% Cocaine that was make quickly and in massive quantities.

I have tried plenty of different grades of Cocaine of varying purities. I recently got some stuff that a 50 year old friend of mine said stood up to the high quality Cocaine from the 70's, and he's done his fair share of Cocaine. I actually was doing lines all night, and once I was done, I put a couple drops of water in each nostril, and I blew my nose into a tissue. There was nothing there. My nose felt completely clean and clear. It was the cleanest Cocaine I have ever done. The look of it was very similar to the Peruvian Flake picture on Erowid that makes everyone drool.

I have noticed varying effects from batch to batch as well as appearance, smell, taste, its effects on the nasal passages and throat, etc.

The appearance can range from white/off-white to slightly/moderately yellowish. It can range from being a dry powder to having mixed powder and chunks, to being one large chunk (not necessarily meaning it was cut straight off of a large brick, as most people know Cocaine can be re-pressed). It can be very powdery to almost a paste in texture, and it can have a very sparkly look to it when it's usually more pasty. When it's like that, it usually melts and sticks to everything quite easily and is very difficult to break up into powdered lines, not to mention sometimes hard to get up your nose.

In my experience, the smell can range from varying strengths of Acetone, Ether, and Kerosine. I've also had very potent Cocaine that didn't have much of any smell. Someone told me that there is some sort of jet fuel that can be used that does not have a smell, but I don't normally believe what I hear from people.

The taste is difficult to describe in words, but the most potent tasting Cocaine is normally the pasty stuff that seems to be somewhat oily.

Last are the effects it has on your nasal passages and throat. I am basically referring to two different qualities, one being the topical anesthetic (numbing) quality, and the other being the general feeling. The numbing quality seems to vary from slight nasal/throat numbing to extreme numbing of the nasal area, throat, teeth, mouth, and even sometime parts of the face (lips and cheeks near the nose). As for the feeling, sometimes I find that there is a slight burn when it hits the nasal area and other times it is completely clean. Most Cocaine will clog up my nose, and I'll feel/taste powder dripping down my throat. Obviously this is the cut in it. When this happens, I'll usually be blowing clumps of shit out of my nose the whole next day. This can happen to various degrees. However, like I mentioned above, I have had Cocaine so clean that all of it dissolved as soon as it hit my nasal area.

I saved the issue of variance in effect for last because I had a question or two regarding it. It seems as though I can tell how good the manufacturing process is by the amount of negative side effects I experience. Just as different strains of Cannabis have varying effects, so does Cocaine. People have argued that "Cocaine is Cocaine," but I can tell the difference. Some Cocaine gets me extremely "geeked," paranoid, edgy, and antisocial. Some Cocaine feels somewhat mellow, less stimulating, and has more of a "fuzzy" head feeling. Some Cocaine feels extremely clean, is very socially stimulating, does not induce high amounts of anxiety and paranoia, and best of all, every nice line is almost as good as the first (meaning you can stay high on it for a long time, whereas with some Cocaine, I end up spaced out, staring at the wall until I fall asleep later).

I have also noticed a difference in the way certain types effect my cardiovascular system. Sometimes I won't even feel that high, and my heart feels like it is going to beat out of my chest, and at other times, I will feel like I'm flying, and my heart beats fast but doesn't feel bad.

The most interesting variance in effect is in how it causes craving. Obviously being a short acting, extremely euphoric stimulant, it is going to cause some degree of craving when the effects start to wear down. If you have read this far into the post, you've likely used Cocaine plenty of times and have experienced the horrid effects of coming down. However, I have had types of Cocaine that don't cause me to crave and to have that stomach grinding feeling that causes you to think every negative thought possible. Strange enough, the types of Cocaine that normally don't cause those effects are the extremely potent types that are very clean. You'd think that would cause it more because of how good you feel without having to deal with nasty side effects. It is the potent "geeky" Cocaine that normally has those effects.

Now I have a couple questions concerning the last paragraph. Are these effects directly related to the effects of Cocaine, or is it more likely psychological, body chemistry, or even what you ate that day? What would cause the difference in how Cocaine effects the brain if it is an effect from certain types of Cocaine?

Lastly, if anyone knows of any "in depth" threads or websites that provide very informative information about the pharmacological effects, the variance in appearance, and production of Cocaine, I would be very interested in reading about it.
 
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Next is the purity. Cocaine isn't +99% pure when it leaves the manufacturer. They cut it with inert powders and such for probably a few good reasons. Not only is it cut from the manufacturer, it is also cut going through the line of dealers before it gets to the user.

Why would the cartels cut the cocaine before shipment? I do not believe it is cut until it has almost reached it's destination (except if coming through Mexico). It would increase shipping size and weight - too things they want to minimize when smuggling!

Cocaine is cocaine is cocaine.. it's the adulterants that piss us off.

Here is a very similar, recent post:
Amphetamine is killing the coke
 
saved the issue of variance in effect for last because I had a question or two regarding it. It seems as though I can tell how good the manufacturing process is by the amount of negative side effects I experience. Just as different strains of Cannabis have varying effects, so does Cocaine. People have argued that "Cocaine is Cocaine," but I can tell the difference. Some Cocaine gets me extremely "geeked," paranoid, edgy, and antisocial. Some Cocaine feels somewhat mellow, less stimulating, and has more of a "fuzzy" head feeling. Some Cocaine feels extremely clean, is very socially stimulating, does not induce high amounts of anxiety and paranoia, and best of all, every nice line is almost as good as the first (meaning you can stay high on it for a long time, whereas with some Cocaine, I end up spaced out, staring at the wall until I fall asleep later).

--------------------------
from what I've read on these forums your geeky coke might be cut with other drugs. My friends call it "speedcoke" and obviously they hate it too.
there are various purifying threads on these forums.
By "Le Junk"

Why would the cartels cut the cocaine before shipment? I do not believe it is cut until it has almost reached it's destination (except if coming through Mexico). It would increase shipping size and weight - too things they want to minimize when smuggling!
they could sell less actual coke for the same amount of money?
 
Why would the cartels cut the cocaine before shipment? I do not believe it is cut until it has almost reached it's destination (except if coming through Mexico). It would increase shipping size and weight - too things they want to minimize when smuggling!

they could sell less actual coke for the same amount of money?

So cartels are into stiffing the big mafias in the USA (and other countries)? It does not make business sense. The big guys can test for purity.

Only with users/street dealers/ and perhaps 1 or two levels more up will they put up with crappy coke or waste space/effort or smuggling in mannitol.

They can cut it all they like AFTER importation.

The conspiracy theory that Le Junk has that the amphetamines are added at the manufacturer or very close to it is very interesting - it makes alot of sense. But that is cutting with adulterants not inactive cuts.
 
lifeisforliving said:
The big guys can test for purity.

<=>
The conspiracy theory that Le Junk has that the amphetamines are added at the manufacturer or very close to it is very interesting - it makes alot of sense. But that is cutting with adulterants not inactive cuts.

that doesn't make sense.
 
Inactive cuts, as in psychoactively inert.

Adulterants, as in psychoactive but not cocaine itself, used as cuts. Anything from methamphetamine to acetaminophen.
 
Originally posted by lifeisforliving
The big guys can test for purity.

<=>
The conspiracy theory that Le Junk has that the amphetamines are added at the manufacturer or very close to it is very interesting - it makes alot of sense. But that is cutting with adulterants not inactive cuts.



that doesn't make sense.

Let me explain.. sorry about the last post. .I was hurried in finishing it. ->

On a per miligram basis, it does make sense. Add 200mg of ephedrine(cheap) to a gram of cocaine and you have a product that will keep the user up for HOURS high. They can't complain about the coke "being shit" since the coke DID fuck them up. It isn't a nice cocaine high, but a speedy high exacerbated by the up/downs of the cocaine.

A moderate/heavy user would find the high very uncomfortable - especially after doing a gram or so or more! I do not know exactly what's in there, but I do know that the high does differ in major ways depending on the source.

I've done coke with "new" people to the drug and they simply just don't like it. They are not talkative, overly egotistical etc, they are simply amped up and pissed off - then they start drinking and drinking to calm themselves down. The whole situation stinks for the health of today's cocaine users.

I'm sure this isn't a problem everywhere, but it is around here.

When it gets to large scale buys everybody knows everybody. They do deals. They stick to them or face the consequences. Things like ephedrine/amphetamine etc are quite easy to find outside of the USA. Things like mannitol can be found easily WITHIN the USA.

If cartel "A" in Columbia sells to Mafia "B" in Florida - they will know what the deal is and know that it contains 20% ephedrine. If the conspiracy is true then they know and agree to this as being a more profitable way to sell cocaine - and the price they pay for a kilogram of "product" is subsequently reduced by 15-20% or so due to the ephedrine being essentially "free".

It is quite a simple matter once Mafia B has the product in the USA for them the cut it massively with inactive fillers. "Rerocking" the coke is not difficult - despite what every dealer tells you ;).
 
lifeisforliving said:
Why would the cartels cut the cocaine before shipment? I do not believe it is cut until it has almost reached it's destination (except if coming through Mexico). It would increase shipping size and weight - too things they want to minimize when smuggling!

Because pure unadulterated cocaine is a paste and it's easier to smuggle powder...
 
Because pure unadulterated cocaine is a paste and it's easier to smuggle powder...

I thought cocaine was only slightly hygroscopic. It will turn a little moist but it depends on the humidity. I still don't see that as being a major reason for cutting the cocaine, for an example, by 50% with mannitol before shipment.
 
It really depends on how one defines “pure”.

Coca leaf is harvested and the alkaloids are extracted in the form of a water soluble paste called pasta. Since the overwhelming majority of this is done by people who know little or nothing about chemistry, the resulting pasta has several organic alkaloids besides cocaine.

Then the pasta goes off to a base lab. This step is very important because it will determine the how much of the various alkaloids remain in the finished product. Again, much of this work is done by individuals that know little or nothing about chemistry. It is very common for solvents to be substituted and/or steps to be left out. (the conversion of pasta requires steps that, if done wrong, result in a loss of quantity of cocaine. Since the coke will sell anyway, many will skip the risky procedure to ensure profits)

The base then goes to a crystal lab where the base is converted to crystal. Once again the focus is on time and quantity, so it’s common to cut corners especially in the filtration and drying/crystallization process. This allows some of the other alkaloids present (from the base) to remain in the final product. (remember, the coke is going to sell anyway)

At this point it’s prepped for shipping and usually doesn’t get touched again until its next destination. From here on the coke is “cut”, “whacked”, “stepped on”, by just about everyone down the line.

To get 90% pure cocaine everyone in the organization needs to be on the “same page” and this takes additional $$$ and is rare. Only the best leaves, quality chems, master cooks, and the most important - extra time to produce high quality. All of this takes many many times the initial investment to produce, therefore, the subsequent product is going to cost much more. This level of purity is rare and is unheard of at “street level”. It’s sold to the wealthy, powerful, connected individuals for personal use, not resale.
 
I have a friend who used to sell cocaine, and would purchase it by the kilo.

This coke mind you was already cut a few times before the key reached them, at which point, they would cut it to hell with ritalin in order to make a profit since they had access to the ritalin for free.

This is where your shity coke comes from that leaves you feeling like shit and unable to sleep for 6 hrs after you stop while good coke will feel smooth and leave you tired and ready for sleep within 45 mins to an hour after your last line wears off.
 
junksick said:
Because pure unadulterated cocaine is a paste and it's easier to smuggle powder...

Pure cocaine are colorless crystals. Cocaine that has absorbed water through the air is a paste. But cocaine with 1% water in it is still better than cocaine cut with 10% "substance-that-prevents-hygrosopicity".
 
would anyone be interested in a coke test that gives more or less quantitative results? we are working on it and are about ready to pump out some prototypes. PM me if you want to test our prototypes., also, in extension on this thread, what are you looking for when testing cocaine?
 
To EZ Test:

That is WONDERFUL. I cannot wait for the day it comes out!

To think of all the people that had heart problems from the EPHEDRINE adulteration of cocaine.

You do good for the world EZ Test. %)
 
that ephedrine/amphetamine cut makes a lot of sense to me in regards of the coke i get around here. i never snort cocaine anymore because i just flat out feel like shit, i'm strictly smoking it.I'm not sure if the amphetamine or ephedrine cut in it stays with it when converted to rock... but i know the cocaine highs can differe depending on who im getting it through... i guess because of the amount of speed its cut with... but the high from rock is pretty much the same for me all around, unless i get badly cooked up shit. in that case its not a different high, just a weaker one cause it takes more.

they need to do something with the quality man... here in NJ the dope is so good, and the coke is so shitty (at least for me), and i definitely aint doing rock unless i got dope to come down with.... so the days of doing a couple of lines and having fun are over as far as i can see..
 
here's a quick tip: cocaine will show a bright orange color when you test it with EZ Test Mandelin, amphetamine will go green. I am not sure about ephedrine and mandelin but my instincts tell it should show some yucky color. if you want to screen against these substances, EZ Test Mandelin is the way to go!
 
Rerocking refers to a process in which a high quality powder is cut with an adulterant (usually a harmless sugar) and then pressed again so the new powder will form rocks again, as a sign of good quality. I will not tell the details of the process as I do not want to give the wrong people the wrong ideas..
 
Some instances in which large shipments are cut before importation. Taken from Microgram.



Published by the Drug Enforcement Administration
Office of Forensic Sciences Washington, D.C. 20537

DILTIAZEM, HYDROXYZINE, AND METHYLEPHEDRINE IDENTIFIED
IN SEPARATE SHIPMENTS OF COCAINE

The Cocaine Signature Program at the DEA Special Testing and Research Laboratory (Dulles, Virginia) has recently received cocaine from large shipments that contained several highly unusual adulterants. In the first example, the U.S. Coast Guard made two separate seizures from vessels in the Caribbean Sea (totalling 2223 kilograms) of cocaine HCl containing various amounts of diltiazem hydrochloride. Diltiazem hydrochloride is a white to off-white powder with a bitter taste and a molecular weight of 450.99 amu. It is legitimately used to treat angina, hypertension, and irregular heartbeats, and is the active ingredient in heart medications produced by a myriad of pharmaceutical companies. It appears that the diltiazem hydrochloride was added to the cocaine at the final processing stage of converting cocaine base to cocaine HCl (that is, just before being formed into kilogram bricks). Signature analyses indicate that the cocaine in this case originated from Colombian grown coca leaf and was converted to cocaine HCl utilizing Colombian Method solvents (that is, most likely in Colombia). The bricks contained from 71-85 percent cocaine HCl and 8 - 20 percent diltiazem hydrochloride.

In the second example, a number of multi-kilogram seizures were made at or near the Texas/Mexico border (net totals not reported) of cocaine HCl containing various amounts of hydroxyzine dihydrochloride. Hydroxyzine has a molecular weight of 374.9 amu and is
classified as an antihistamine. It is legitimately used to treat anxiety, motion sickness, and skin rashes. It again appears that the hydroxyzine was added to the cocaine at the final processing stage of converting cocaine base to cocaine HCl. Signature analyses indicate that th
e cocaine in this case originated from Colombian grown coca leaf and was converted to cocaine HCl utilizing Colombian Method solvents (again, most likely in Colombia). The bricks contained 75 - 84 percent cocaine HCl and 3 - 10 percent hydroxyzine dihydrochloride (other cocaine related alkaloids constituted as much as 14 percent of these exhibits).

In the third example, a number of multi-kilogram seizures were made by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration of cocaine HCl seizures containing various amounts of methylephedrine. One seizure (2200 kilograms) was made in the Caribbean Sea, while a second (amount not reported) was made off the coast of Florida, and a third (amount not reported) was made near Calexico, California. Methylephedrine has a molecular weight of 179.3 amu. It is legitimately used for its moderate CNS stimulant effects, and is often found in diet pills. Although not controlled, it is closely monitored as a List I chemical due to its occasional use in illicit methamphetamine production (that is, to produce dimethylamphetamine). It again appears that the methylephedrine was added to the cocaine at the final processing stage of converting cocaine base to cocaine HCl. Signature analyses indicate that the cocaine in this case originated from Colombian grown coca leaf and was converted to cocaine HCl utilizing Colombian Method solvents (again, most likely in Colombia). The bricks contained 71 - 78 percent cocaine HCl and 10 - 19 percent methylephedrine.

[Editor’s Notes: Since these original reports, three additional seizures of cocaine containing diltiazem (25, 24, and 855 kilograms, respectively) and one additional seizure of cocaine containing methylephedrine (72 kilograms) were analyzed at the laboratory. However, no further seizures of cocaine containing hydroxyzine were submitted to the laboratory.]
 
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