
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 22, 1990                   TAG: 9005220240
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

PURITY OF COCAINE SOLD IN U.S. APPARENTLY FALLS

The average purity of cocaine sold in the United States declined significantly in the year's first four months, possibly indicating that shortages have forced traffickers to dilute their product, according to data collected by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The statistics, compiled at the request of the Los Angeles Times, show that cocaine marketed in one-gram quantities across the country is now about one-fifth less pure than that purchased by federal agents last year.

- Los Angeles Times

by CNB