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I've seen a documentary about the narcotics control at the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Peru. The officers used a rapid test to identify cocaine. They put a cotton swab into the substance. The test was positive if it turned turquoise.

How does the test work? Is it really possible to unambiguously identify a substance by the color change? How can any known or even yet unknown substance be ruled out to react in the same way?

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    $\begingroup$ I don't know how advanced forensic science is. But to me, a more likely scenario is that this is just a quick test to determine whether somebody should be reeled in for further questioning/investigation. It would need to be combined with other evidence to be conclusive. $\endgroup$
    – orthocresol
    Dec 24, 2018 at 2:20
  • $\begingroup$ They were arrested and handcuffed on the spot (and questioned further). The alleged cocaine was weighed exactly to the gram. The potential prison sentence was based on the weight. I found that strange, too, since even if the test was right, the drug could have been diluted. $\endgroup$
    – xehpuk
    Dec 24, 2018 at 2:42
  • $\begingroup$ What documentary was that? $\endgroup$
    – Rodrigo de Azevedo
    Sep 25, 2022 at 15:45
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    $\begingroup$ @RodrigodeAzevedo Don't know for sure (and didn't even know back then), but it might have been one of those: natgeotv.com/za/shows/natgeo/airport-security-peru $\endgroup$
    – xehpuk
    Sep 26, 2022 at 14:37

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