Forensic Profiling and Source Attribution of Illicit Drug Substances in Zimbabwe: Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review  identified and examined literature on forensic profiling, chemometric methods and source attribution of illicit drug substances in SADC countries as well as Europe, deducing its applicability in the Zimbabwean context. Searches were done on Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier and PubMed, considering articles published from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2025, including only original research and reviews in English. The searches yielded 283 results or records, with 18 eligible studies and 12 additional publications for support. The use of various analytical platforms, including GC-MS, LC-MS, HRMS, IR, and NMR was explored. This was done in conjunction with chemometric workflows such as principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and clustering algorithms. The analysis of regional evidence from Southern Africa reveals a growing reliance on chemical profiling and multivariate statistics; but Zimbabwe-specific research is lacking. The study identifies critical gaps and practical barriers to implementation (which include laboratory capacity, data-sharing, and quality management). The study further proposes a research and capability-building plan for Zimbabwe around the area, drawing on guidelines from ENFSI (2021) and recent studies.