Forensic Science Journal FORENSIC SCIENCE 2019;18(1):19-33 JOURNAL SINCE 2002 fsjournal.cpu.edu.tw DOI:10.6593/FSJ.201912_18(1).0003 An Authentication Strategy of Chinese Spirit Based on Features of the Bottle Label —58° Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Example Ting-Chia Chang 1, M.S. ; Chien-Tung Chen 2, M.L. ; Wei-Tun Chang 3*, Ph.D. 1 Investigation Branch, Coast Guard Administration, Ocean Affairs Council, 296 Sec. 3 Muzha Road, Wenshan, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. 2 Taiwan Academy of Forensic Document Examination, 4F 200 Sec.1 Keelung Road, Xinyi, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. 3 Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, 56 Shujen Rd., Takang Vil., Kueishan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan 33304 R.O.C. Received: October 18, 2019; Accepted: December 5, 2019. Abstract Past cases have shown that the faking of 58°Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (58°KKL), a type of sorghum liquor, is usually dominated by adulteration, in two forms concerning the use of bottle labels: 1) recycling old bottles with authentic bottle labels and 2) sticking fake bottle labels on bottles. A complete and systematic authentication procedure of 58°KKL usually requires analyses to be performed on the bottle cap, bottle label, and liquor. However, this study focuses on analytical methods for the identification of bottle label, with physical identification methods involving ultraviolet (UV) light source, digital microscope, video spectral comparator (VSC), and with chemical identification methods involving X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). By using these complementary and comparative analytical methods, a total of 12 features with discriminative value were obtained, based on which an analytical strategy for the authentication of 58°KKL bottle label was established to improve the credibility of evidence. Keywords: forensic science, bottle labels of Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (KKL), digital microscope, video spectral comparator (VSC), x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), authentication *Corresponding author: Wei-Tun Chang, Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, 56 Shujen Rd., Takang Vil., Kueishan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan 33304 R.O.C. E-mail: [email protected] 20 Forensic Science Journal 2019; 18(1) Introduction the bottle caps, bottle labels, and liquor. However, this study focuses on identifying the physical and chemical In the past decades, many seized cases have shown features of bottle labels and comparing the packaging that fake 58°Kinmen Kaoliang Liquors (58°KKLs), material used in the bottle label to achieve authentication called “Platinum Dragon” with 58% alcohol by vol- purpose and provide support to frontline investigators in ume, the most popular Chinese spirit-based drinks made case of investigation and subsequent case trials in court. by Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc in Taiwan, usually According to the tender notice of the government consists of two forms: 1) Adulterate the liquor by either e-procurement system of the Republic of China (Tai- counterfeiting bottle labels/bottle caps of a famous liquor wan), the bottle labels of 58°KKL (58% ABV) and the brand or collecting authentic liquor bottles with bottle la- banknotes currently in circulation in Taiwan are security bels while counterfeiting bottle caps. Then, fill the bottles documents printed by the Central Engraving and Print- with a small amount of authentic liquor of the original ing Plant [1]; both use the similar security features for brand and then blend it with other inferior ingredients; many aspects, such as fluorescent color-changing inks, that is, a small amount of reference liquor (A) is mixed fibers, and microtexts. Through setting security features with a large amount of non-reference liquor ingredients for bottle labels, it is possible to increase the difficulty (non-A). 2) Counterfeit the liquor, such as design a li- to fake the liquor and protect the brand [2]. Security quor that is extremely similar to an authentic liquor in features of security documents are determined jointly terms of liquor name, bottle appearance, liquor color, and by five primary elements—original design, printing label of raw materials, that is, a liquor (non-A) is faked plate, printing substrate, printing ink, and printing ma- to extremely resemble an authentic liquor (A). Cases of chine [3]—and are divided into four levels according to faking 58°KKL are dominated by adulteration, which requirements. As summarized in Table 1, 58°KKL is generally consists of two types in terms of the methods the highest consumed liquor in Taiwan and thereby has of obtaining 58°KKL labels: 1) recycling 58°KKL often been subjected to counterfeit in the past, making bottles with authentic bottle labels and 2) sticking fake it mandatory to design security documents to meet the bottle labels on bottles. A systematic authentication of level-4 requirements of crime prevention and increase 58°KKL usually requires analyses to be performed on the difficulty to fake [4]. Table 1 Description of the levels in a security document. Level Type Identification focus Use object/method Independent examination based on The general public or store cashiers 1 Visible individuals’ sensory instinct, knowledge, or / visual examination and touch cognition. Independent examination based on The general public or store cashiers 2 Semi-invisible individual’s knowledge after using handheld / auxiliary tools or additional equipment. Using additional devices and machines to read and identify security features based Vending machine, deposit machine 3 Invisible/semi-invisible on fluorescence, infrared light, magnetic / machine reading properties, and colors. The forensic laboratory and the issuing unit Issuing unit and law enforcement Requirements of crime inspect and identify the details of security 4 unit / instrumental qualification or prevention documents and the instrument-distinguished quantification features. Authentication Strategy of 58°Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor 21 Security document examination is simply found that under natural light, the painting appeared as performed through “visual inspection,” which is likely flowers and fruits, but it appeared as figures when only to be excluded from the court under the current strict Pb signals were collected for observation, indicating that requirements for credibility of evidence. Therefore, most the painting was a derivative work in which the lower of today’s questioned document examination experts layer was an old canvas with figures, and the upper use “instrumental inspection” by setting each specific layer was an imitation painting with flowers and fruits. external condition in the examination steps, such as the Moreover, when analyzing the painting “Portrait of Jan type of light source, lens setting, exposure time, and color Brant,” a hidden canvas label representing the production filter, thereby ensuring that anyone can obtain the same year of 1871 or 1902 was found, which was inconsistent result under the same external conditions [5], so that the with the claimed 17th century [11]. The XRF method has examination results are more credible in court. the advantage of requiring no pre-treatment and allowing In particular, the Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) large-area scanning, so it is promising to analyze the method is the most widely used instrumental analysis overall element distribution and strength of liquor method for physical examination, best known for its bottle labels so as to achieve authentication purpose. ability to allow rapid and non-destructive analysis. For In addition, the scanning electron microscope/energy example, Atwater et al. detected gunshot residues on dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) method is also clothes from guns of different calibers by using the employed for analysis as the SEM/EDS method allows VSC method, showing that it was possible to rapidly elemental analysis for specific sites on the samples, which makes the method widely useable in the field of forensic find gunshot residues, bloodstains, or burning patterns science, such as particle analysis of gunshot residues [12], on clothes by using excitation light of 440-580 nm and forensic analysis of automotive paint [13], and welding observing the emission assisted with a 610-nm long- spatter identification [14]. Therefore, a good analytical pass filter under integration time of 0.2 seconds, and strategy will be able to perform multiple comparisons that it was possible to use a VSC to rapidly describe including UV luminance, tool marks and printing features the burning situation of gunshot residues on clothes to examination with the digital microscope, large-area refer to when later evaluating the shooting distance [6]. elemental analysis with the XRF and elemental analysis In addition, Ethier et al. employed the VSC method to at specific sites with the SEM/EDS method. analyze burned documents and clearly observed visually With respect to the overall analysis strategy, physical indiscernible fingerprints and handwritings on the burnt and chemical identification methods supplementary to documents by using VSC-based infrared photography each other will be selected to reveal features and provide [7]. In short, VSC is easy to operate and allows rapid and identification results of higher credibility value in order non-destructive analysis without damaging the tested to achieve authentication aim. target, making it useful for subsequent examination.