Manufacture, of cocaine

According to a chemist who assisted in the legal manufacture of cocaine, there are three basic methods of extracting cocaine from the coca leaf ... 

The dried coca leaf is treated, through a chemical process, with an acid solution such as sulfuric acid, producing raw cocaine or coca paste. The coca paste which contains approximately 70% cocaine, is put through another chemical process with hydrochloric acid creating a hydrochloric salt or cocaine hydrochloride which is soluble in water. This particular process is very time consuming and can take from 1 to 2 weeks to complete. This process is used by both the legitimate and illicit manufacturers of cocaine. 

The Board notes that, of the 11 countries reporting seizures of potassium permanganate during 2003, 2 are in Asia (Azerbaijan and China), 4 are in the Americas (Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and the United States) and 5 are in Europe (Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and Ukraine). The seizures of potassium permanganate outside of Latin America are too small to be useful in the illicit manufacture of cocaine and are therefore more probably related to the illicit manufacture of methcathinone (ephedrone) through the oxidation of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. 

Illicit manufacture of cocaine and heroin scheduled substances and the approximate quantities of them required for the illicit manufacture of 100 kilograms of cocaine or heroin hydrochloride... 

Javanese coca leaves resemble Truxillo coca and are employed for the manufacture of cocaine in Holland. 

Another major exporting country, the United States, is currently deciding whether or not sodium permanganate should be placed under national control, as the substance is a direct substitute for potassium permanganate for both licit and illicit purposes. Governments of countries in regions where the illicit manufacture of cocaine takes place should also note that the substance may also be encountered in illicit laboratories. 

Potassium permanganate seizures during 2005 were the largest ever reported to the Board, with 16 countries seizing a total of 183 tons of the substance. The fact that fewer attempts to divert the substance from international trade are also being uncovered serves as an indication that traffickers may have developed new methods and routes of diversion, utilizing domestic distribution channels in third countries not normally associated with the illicit manufacture of cocaine. 

B. Substances used in the illicit manufacture of cocaine potassium permanganate... 

One of the primary objectives of Operation Purple was to prevent diversions of potassium permanganate from licit trade for use in the illicit manufacture of cocaine in the Americas. Since the operation commenced, there has been a decline in both the number of shipments and the volume of potassium permanganate imported into the Americas (see figure II). 

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