German euro notes show high level of cocaine contamination

Frankfurter Allemeigne Zeitung ^ | 6/27/03 | John Weedon

[Mensch]

Drug traces are spread to clean bills through everyday circulation

By John Weedon

Nearly all German euro notes show traces of cocaine, Nuremberg's Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research reported this week, citing a new study.

In early 2002, shortly after the introduction of euro cash, scientists had detected traces of this drug on just two out of every 70 banknotes. By August 2002, 90 percent of 700 tested euro notes were found to be affected.

The German findings correspond to evidence for the United States and Britain, countries with reportedly high cocaine consumption, the institute's Professor Fritz Sörgel said. Absolute levels of contamination in Germany have also increased, he added. While the average amount of cocaine found on a German euro note was 0.4 micrograms (millionth of a gram), cocaine users generally seem to prefer rolling up smaller bills. Larger bills over 100, 200 and 500 euros were found to show significantly smaller traces of cocaine.

The scientist pointed out, however, that the widespread contamination must not be understood to indicate that 90 percent of German euro notes have actually been used to sniff the white powdery substance. Rather, he said, residual amounts of cocaine on individual bills are spread to “clean“ bills through everyday cash circulation - for example, through cashiers and cash machines - and bill sorting at banks.

In a study conducted before the introduction of euro cash, the Nuremberg researchers detected cocaine above all on the bills of those countries where consumption of this drug is known to be widespread.

The highest trace of cocaine, six milligrams, was found on a Spanish bill.

While the German government estimates the number of cocaine users in Germany at 330,000, Sörgel believes it may be twice as high.

The Nuremberg professor and his research team already caused furor three years ago when they discovered traces of cocaine in the toilets of the Reichstag parliamentary building in Berlin.

[Luis Gonzalez]

In the 1980's, I had a good friend that worked with the Federal Reserve, our paper money then tested just like the Euro today.

[StatesEnemy]

Hmmmmm.... another useful excuse for a cashless society?

[fso301]

The Nuremberg professor and his research team already caused furor three years ago when they discovered traces of cocaine in the toilets of the Reichstag parliamentary building in Berlin.

Should also be able to find traces on seats in the VIP restroom at the Crobar in Miami Beach.

[zeugma]

From what I understand, having read about this a bit, most of the contamination comes from the counting machines. I've seen tests of freshly printed money straight from the Federal Reserve bank that indicate the money was contaminated. The problem is, the tests are so accurate now, that even microscopic traces can cause a positive ID. As such, such tests have become useless.

[spokeshave]

Maybe its in the printing ink