Illicit Tramadol Tablets Traded in Kuwait during 2016 – 2017; Their Analysis by GC/MS and Classification

Aim: To determine the quality and quantity of tramadol traded in the State of Kuwait and its classification.

Study Design: Collected samples of tramadol tablets seized in Kuwait during 2016 & 2017 and a pure tramadol standard, all have been analyzed in the Forensic Laboratories.

Place and Duration of Study: All analyses were conducted during 2016–2017 in the Forensic Laboratories of the General Department of Criminal Evidences – Ministry of Interior – State of Kuwait.

Methodology: A total of fifty samples of non-pure tramadol tablets seized in Kuwait during the year 2016 & 2017 and one pure standard, all have been analyzed by using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).

Results: The fifty collected samples of tramadol could be classified into three groups: The first (Red) group is recorded in 42 samples (84 % of samples) with concentration range between 0.1 mg/ml and 1.1 mg/ml; it has a red color known as (strawberry) which is a street name; it is mixed with carboxylic and silicic acids, the second (White)group is detected in 3 samples, with two different concentrations: One sample has 0.3 mg/ml and the other two samples have 0.4 mg/ml; it is mixed with acidic substances and newly identified venlafaxine and the third (Medical) group is recorded in 5 samples as a pharmaceutical drug with different colors and shapes, one of them was detected as acetaminophen, and hence deleted, while the concentrations recorded for all four tablets are 0.2 mg/ml; it is mixed with acidic substances and venlafaxine.

Conclusion: The main types of tramadol frequently traded in the State of Kuwait, can be divided into the following three groups: First Red Group includes red tablets which represent the most common type traded from Egypt, India and China according to the statistics of United Nations 2013(18), with purity range from 60% to 201%. The Second White Group includes all white tablets which are much less traded than the red tablets, with purity range from 58% to 123% and the Third Medical Group includes adulterated medical tablets which have purity range as 26%.