Introduction

 

Imagine the scenario...while searching the inside of a suspects vehicle you and your partner notice what appears to be a white powdery substance in a plastic bag hidden under the front drivers side seat .  Your partner opens up the bag with the white substance, shakes it around a bit, releasing some of the substance in the air.  Within minutes he is on the ground coughing and in pain.

 

In this scenario the substance in the bag was not cocaine but the deadly toxin Ricin which is 6,000 times more powerful than cyanide.  Just a speck of the substance, no bigger than a head of a pin, is enough to kill you if it’s injected.  It’s no wonder that many radical groups have planned to use this substance against law enforcement.

 

In this article you'll be given a very brief rundown of what Ricin is, how radical groups may use it and what to do.  All information is based upon open source information (many are included in the attachments located on the last page).  Always follow directions and instructions from your department (or public health agency) since this article is meant as an introduction only.

 

 


 

Background

 

While the previous scenario is fictitious, it’s not without merit.  Ricin in its powder form looks very much like cocaine and careless handling can cause the substance to become airborne and pose an immediate threat to you.

 

To prove how easily Ricin can be confused with cocaine, Canadian customs officials found a stack of currency with 130 grams of a white powdery substance between the bills that were in the possession of Thomas Lewis Lavy from Arkansas back in 1993.  Assuming it was cocaine, the customs officials had it analyzed and were shocked to find it was Ricin.   It wasn’t until December 1995, however, that FBI agents arrested Lavy for violating the Biological Weapons Antiterrorism Act of 1989.  Lavy hanged himself in his jail cell the next day and the intended use of the toxin died with him.

 

 

 

Radical Groups Actively Seeking Ricin

While international Terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda make up the headlines, other radical groups operating in America  have an ideological belief in the death or injury of law enforcement officers.  Since the early 90's we’ve noticed Ricin being used more often and sought out by such radical criminals.   Ricin occurs naturally in castor beans so it’s easier to produce and use than Anthrax, making it an ideal weapon of choice for these radicals.

 

  •  In April 1991 a Militia group called “The Patriots Council” successfully manufactured enough Ricin from castor beans to affect over 100 people.  They considered using it against Federal agents.
  •  In January 2003 five Algerian men were charged in Britain with conspiring to develop or produce a chemical weapon following a Ricin find in their London Apartment.
 
More recently in 2004, the U.S. Senate mailroom received Ricin laced letters from an unknown person or group.  (After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, letters with Anthrax were sent to the U.S. Senate and several media organizations)

 

 

How to Stay Safe

Protecting yourself from the possible danger of Ricin is simple as being cautious when handling anything you find on a person or in a vehicle.

 

Remembering the Four Don'ts when searching a vehicle, suspect or entering an area that may have toxins around is your best first-line defense:

 

  • Don’t Become a Victim.  Stay in the correct mind set that you don’t want to be infected
  • Don’t Rush In.  Radicals want you to rush to the aid of someone without thinking.  Quickly observe the scene and if anything is suspicious (many people coughing violently, a smoky substance in the air, etc.) take protective measures and call/radio your Sergeant.
  • Don’t TEST: Taste, Eat, Smell, or Touch
  • Don’t Assume Anything.  Why take a chance assuming it’s cocaine or something else. Treat it as a hazardous substance until criminalistics or experts can determine what it is.

 

You can further protect yourself by creating a ‘barrier’ between yourself and the substance by wearing disposable gloves (or at a minimum any gloves) when searching vehicles or suspicious items.  If you don’t already have some disposable gloves in your cruiser, throw a few in your duty bag.  Another option are the new generation of search gloves that can resist liquid and punctures.

 

Using a disposable mask during searches can’t hurt either.  Remember you don’t have to do this all the time, only when examining powdery substances or if you notice anything resembling powder or chemicals in the vehicle.


 

 

How to Tell if You've Been Exposed to Ricin

  • The major symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of exposure and the dose received, though many organs may be affected in severe cases. Initial symptoms of ricin poisoning by inhalation may occur within 8 hours of exposure. Following ingestion of ricin, initial symptoms typically occur in less than 6 hours.
  • Inhalation: Within a few hours of inhaling significant amounts of ricin, the likely symptoms would be respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), fever, cough, nausea, and tightness in the chest. Heavy sweating may follow as well as fluid building up in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This would make breathing even more difficult, and the skin might turn blue. Excess fluid in the lungs would be diagnosed by x-ray or by listening to the chest with a stethoscope. Finally, low blood pressure and respiratory failure may occur, leading to death. In cases of known exposure to ricin, people having respiratory symptoms that started within 12 hours of inhaling ricin should seek medical care.
  • Ingestion: If someone swallows a significant amount of ricin, he or she would develop vomiting and diarrhea that may become bloody. Severe dehydration may be the result, followed by low blood pressure. Other signs or symptoms may include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine. Within several days, the person’’s liver, spleen, and kidneys might stop working, and the person could die.
  • Skin and eye exposure: Ricin in the powder or mist form can cause redness and pain of the skin and the eyes.
  • Death from ricin poisoning could take place within 36 to 72 hours of exposure, depending on the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or injection) and the dose received. If death has not occurred in 3 to 5 days, the victim usually recovers.
  • Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to ricin.

 

What to Do If You Are Exposed to Ricin

 
  •   Get to fresh air.  Time and distance from a biological or chemical attack is your best bet.  Leave the scene as quickly as possible and put as much distance between you and the substance.  Breathing fresh air (or air from EMS/Fire) will help.
  • Notify dispatch that you have been exposed to a possible chemical or biological agent.  This will give Fire-Rescue the information the need to help you out without getting them exposed to the danger as well.
  • Plenty of soap and water should be immediately administered to any person that has come in contact with ricin. This will clear much of the toxin away from the body.  Place any contaminated clothing and gear in sealed plastic bags to prevent further contamination.
  • Get to the hospital should any symptoms arise, even if they seem like the common cold or a muscle ache.  Make sure you tell the doctor to check for possible exposure to toxins like Ricin or biological agents.  Let the doctor know what type of substances you have come in to contact with and when (The time and date).

 

 

Conclusion

Although this article only provided one method of attack and toxin by radical groups the basic survival tactics remain the same: Be aware of possible hidden toxins, treat any unknown substance as a hazardous material and finally don’t neglect any physical signs or symptoms...get to a Doctor immediately.


Disclaimer

The contents of this article is not intended to replace professional legal, medical, or departmental guidance or procedures.  In all cases, it is recommended that readers seek the advice and care of professionals if available.  The author does not assume any responsibility for the use or misuse of information contained in this article.  This article is intended for academic study only.

NAVCOPS Network

I originally wrote this article for the U.S. Naval law enforcement membership network known as the 'NAVCOPS Network' located at www.navcops.com.