Preparation of objects for the examination of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors: a case study approach
Abstract
When investigating crimes related to drug trafficking, it is important to properly seize, pack, transport, store drugs and prepare them for expert examination.
The article analyses the peculiarities of seizure of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors. The following items are subject to seizure when preparing objects for examination: narcotic, psychotropic, potent substances, precursors, materials and equipment used for their manufacture, storage and transportation. Narcotic drugs can be seized in various forms, namely: plants, liquids, pills of different colours, shapes and sizes, capsules, powders of different colours. The seized objects are subject to mandatory recording in the protocol of the relevant investigative (detective) action with photographs or video recording. The equipment used for their manufacture, storage and transportation is also subject to seizure. It is proposed to involve specialists of various fields (criminalist, botanist, agronomist) in conducting investigative (“detective”) actions. An algorithm of actions for seizure, packaging and storage of objects has been developed depending on the identified typical situations: detection of illegal crops; detection of drug laboratories/drug houses; detection of “bookmarks” or detention of a person during an operational purchase. Recommendations for handling narcotic substances have been provided.
Correct seizure, packaging, transportation, storage of narcotic drugs and their preparation for expert examination significantly improves both the quality of forensic examination of narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors, and the effectiveness of the investigation of crimes related to drug trafficking in general.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2023 S. M. Lozova, S. I. Perlin
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