Panaji: Police can now test drugs on the spot

PANAJI: In a much needed boost, Goa police will now be able to conduct spot tests to identify drugs seized in narcotic raids.
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) at Verna has procured 18 preliminary narcotic detection kits which have been handed over to the police.
A senior police officer said that using these kits, police will be now able to ascertain the type of drug seized during a raid.The kits are being distributed to police stations and the anti-narcotic cell (ANC), he said.
FSL Verna had initiated the process for testing narcotic substances in the state, which are currently being sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad. It is now in the process of procuring narcotic detection kits to commence testing at the laboratory.
The officer said full-fledged testing of narcotic substances will be undertaken once the kits are tested at FSL Verna, which will help complete police investigations in drugs-related cases.
At present, drugs are being sent outside the state for chemical analysis, which is a time-consuming process and hinders investigations, filing chargesheets or closing reports, he said. Currently, ganja and charas is being tested at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while chemical drugs are sent out of state, the officer said.
Goa police have seized ganja, methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), cocaine, charas, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) liquid, LSD paper, heroin, amphetamine, ketamine and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in drugs-related cases.
Synthetic drugs are imported by foreigners and mostly used during parties. “Such drugs are sold in Goa during the peak tourist season when foreigners are in the state,” said the police officer. He also said that after analysing data, ANC found that 30 foreigners who were arrested in drug cases had entered the state via Dabolim airport.