Cocaine carries a chemical fingerprint from the region where the coca was grown. ABSTRACT Here we show that cocaine originating from different geographic regions in South America can be

identified by its isotope-ratio signature. The distinct carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope-ratio combinations allow the country of origin to be determined for the principal

coca-growing regions along the Andean Ridge. By combining this information with detectable differences in the patterns of the trace alkaloids truxilline and trimethoxycocaine, we correctly

identified the source of 96% of 200 cocaine samples. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS

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DISCOVER SIMILARITIES BETWEEN COCAINE SAMPLES Article Open access 29 September 2020 REFERENCES * Moore, J. M. & Casale, J. F. _Forensic Sci. Rev._ 10, 13–46 (1998). CAS  PubMed  Google

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Department of Biology, Stable Isotope Ratio Facility for Environmental Research, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, 84112-0840 , Utah, USA James R. Ehleringer & Michael J.

Lott * US Department of Justice, Special Testing and Research Laboratory Drug Enforcement Administration, 7704 Old Springhouse Road, McLean, 22102-3494, Virginia, USA John F. Casale & 

Valerie L. Ford Authors * James R. Ehleringer View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * John F. Casale View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Michael J. Lott View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Valerie L. Ford View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to James R. Ehleringer. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT

THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Ehleringer, J., Casale, J., Lott, M. _et al._ Tracing the geographical origin of cocaine. _Nature_ 408, 311–312 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35042680

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