MEDIA CONTACT:
Suzie Boland
RFB Communications Group
813-259-0345 sboland@rfbcommunications.com
LARGO, Fla. – (Aug. 23, 2011) – Field Forensics Inc ., developer of explosives and other detection devices for international and domestic military, homeland security, law enforcement and other commercial or government applications, has released its IDEX 008 kit for detection of
Acetic Anhydride, a chemical used to refine opium into heroin.
The need is great: the global trade in heroin is worth approximately $55 billion; $35 billion of which is consumed annually by residents of European Union countries. The United
States is a large secondary market. During the past two years, Afghanistan has produced more than 90 percent of the world’s opium gum, the basic precursor to heroin. The heroin production process requires more than 1,150 tons of Acetic Anhydride, a chemical that is banned in the country.
“Despite the Afghan ban on Acetic Anhydride, thousands of tons are smuggled into the country each year,” says Craig Johnson, Field Forensics CEO. “Use of the Field Forensics IDEX

008 detection test for Acetic Anhydride at targeted border points will significantly impact its entry into the country and therefore the production and exportation of heroin.”
IDEX 008 testers, each a standalone kit, are packaged inside a rugged plastic tube that is easy to open and easily carried in a pant or shirt packet. The test kit uses chemical reagents that are fully contained inside the tester, without the need for ancillary equipment. Training is simple and quick and does not require written instructions.
“Based on our experience with selling explosive detection devices, we think training
Afghan National Police and Border Police in the use of the IDEX 008 Acetic Anhydride test kits will be of great assistance in detecting this substance and will therefore help stem the flow of heroin out of the country,” says Johnson.
Field Forensics has also produced and sold its IDEX 002 kits for use by Afghan Border
Police in the detection of ammonium nitrate, a key ingredient in improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). In addition, the company has sold more than 100,000 units of the IDEX 002 to U.S.
Marine Corps, U.S. Army and NAVTECH DOD representatives for use in vehicle checkpoints on the Afghanistan borders with India, Iran and Pakistan; as well as active patrolling in tribal areas.
About Field Forensics Inc.:
Established in 2001, Field Forensics Inc. ( http://www.fieldforensics.com
) supports law enforcement, intelligence agencies, military commercial security and other government forensics laboratories, and first responders with unique and patent-protected field sampling devices. These devices include those that detect explosives immediately with no ancillary power

supply and those that sample organic molecules (drugs, hazardous materials, explosives and chemical weapons) for rapid analysis in analytical instruments.
Note: Photos and video are available