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Technical Note Improvised Explosive Device Disguised as a Smoking Pipe Richard T. Ramsey* and Pamela M. Woods ABSTRACT: A homemade pipe that was initially suspected to be intended for smoking controlled substances was instead found to actually be an improvised explosive device fabricated from match heads and air gun pellets. KEYWORDS: Improvised Explosive Device, IED, Drug Paraphernalia, Pipe, Forensic Chemistry Introduction With the exception of needles, most drug paraphernalia items do not present a threat to the investigating officers or the forensic scientists examining the evidence. However, in a multi-exhibit case submitted to this laboratory in September, 2004 an improvised explosive device was discovered during examination and analysis. The case included six exhibits: One charred metal pipe (a typical “crack pipe”), one charred glass pipe (another typical “crack pipe”), three handmade aluminum foil pipes with charred residue (typical marijuana pipes), and one apparent pipe-like device wrapped with silver colored duct tape (see Photo 1). The seizures were made in a suburb of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Experimental The two presumed “crack pipes” (the metal and glass pipes) were each rinsed with chloroform, and the resulting solutions screened by thin layer chromatography (TLC), using “Analtech” Silica Gel plates 250 µm thickness. A reference standard of cocaine base was also spotted on the plate. The remainder of each chloroform rinse solution was evaporated to dryness, and the resulting residue was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), using a Perkin Elmer Spectrum One with an ATR attachment. The three presumed marijuana pipes (the handmade aluminum foil pipes) were unrolled and found to contain charred residues. This material was subjected to a morphological examination under a stereoscope with a 10x magnification. The Duquenois-Levine test was also performed. Finally, the pipes were each rinsed with chloroform, and the resulting solutions screened by TLC against a known reference standard of marijuana. The last pipe was first examined visually and stereoscopically (see Photo 1). It measured 8 cm in length and 1.5 cm in diameter, and was wrapped with silver colored duct tape . As the layers of duct tape were unwrapped, an inner layer of black electrical tape was observed, and then a layer of aluminum foil. Inside of the foil, ten metal pellets were observed surrounding a plastic pen cap. The total net weight of the ten pellets was 76.9 grains. The pen cap was plastic, with a blue checked pattern on a yellow background. A standard metal shirt clip was observed on the exterior side of the pen cap. Twenty apparent match heads were found inside the pen cap. It appeared that the base of each match had been torn off, so that only the ignitable tip remained. The suspected match heads were examined using FTIR and diffuse reflectance. Results and Discussion The metal and glass pipes both tested positive for cocaine base. However, all three of the aluminum foil pipes tested negative for controlled substances. The final pipe was determined to actually be an IED. Upon close examination of the metal pellets, they were consistent in appearance with lead air gun pellets. The metal pellets had an hourglass shape with one end open characterized by rib marks around the outside; this is referred to as a “gereffelt” type skirt. The other end was filled and flat; this is referred to as a “wad cutter” type head design. The white material on the suspected match heads was consistent with potassium chlorate, one of the reactive ingredients used in the heads of commercially prepared matches. Although the exact function of this device is not known, detonation upon handling, disassembly, or analysis by law enforcement personnel seems unlikely. For this device to activate, an external force or an open flame would have to be introduced to ignite the match heads. The release of energy caused by the burning match heads would presumably cause an explosive effect, fragmenting the pen cap and ejecting the pellets contained within the tape. Speculating, it appears that the intended target would be an unsuspecting user. -------------------------------------------------- [Editor’s Notes: Based on a brief review, references dedicated to IED’s do not include any devices of this exact description. However, there are a variety of similar, match head type IED’s, most of which would be considered to be “booby-trap” devices designed to detonate upon handling. Specific references are withheld in accordance with Journal policy.]
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