Drug Identification

• Services Provided
• Submission of evidence
• Safety precautions

The primary function of the Drug Identification Section is to analyze chemical compounds and determine if possession of these compounds is in violation of federal and state drug laws. The Drug Identification Section also has a team of scientists trained to assist police officers in clandestine laboratory seizures, technical support in undercover operations, supplying the courts and other state agencies with factual drug information, and providing information to the general public and news media about drug abuse. Drug identification is performed in each of the laboratories throughout the state.

• Identification of substances in violation of federal or Georgia drug laws
• Quantification performed as required
• Free base determination on cocaine cases prosecuted under federal law
• Assistance in clandestine laboratory seizures (coordinated through GBI-HQ)
• Assistance in other undercover drug operations
• Net weights given on powder-type materials and marijuana samples
• Reports will reflect proper scheduling under Georgia law
• Reports will reflect analytical procedures used in testing
• Police training in marijuana identification through POST

Effective July 1, 2004, per GBI Operations Bulletin 2004-01, suspected marijuana samples will be tested within the restraints as described within the bulletin.

In most cases, only one item will be analyzed per case. Upon request, additional items meeting laboratory policy may be analyzed.

Evidence must be sealed and labeled prior to entering the laboratory. One DOFS case number will be used for all evidence submitted using the same agency case number. In most cases only one item will be analyzed. Packaging, labeling and the method of submission is very important for agencies using one agency number for ongoing investigations, or for cases with multiple suspects. This information is used to determine what evidence will be analyzed. All evidence items associated with an agency case number must be grouped (attached) together with attached respective submission forms . Each undercover “buy” must be packaged separately, labeled with the date, and submitted to the lab as a separate request. Evidence seized from a search warrant must be packaged separately from previous “buy” cases and submitted as a separate request. Seizures at the same location attributable to a specific suspect must be packaged separately from other evidence and submitted as a separate request for that individual. Evidence seized from different properties (for forfeiture of property) must be packaged separately and submitted as different requests. When trafficking cases are suspected, or more than one ounce of marijuana is suspected, all evidence to be used in the weight determination must be submitted on one submission request. Weights between separate requests cannot be added to determine if weight requirements for the charges have been met. A separate report will be generated for each request.

All information necessary for receiving case(s) comes from the log and/or submission form. Please write legibly. The suspect’s name and agency case number on the form must agree with the name and agency case number on the outer plastic bag. Do not submit paperwork or the Evidence Submission Form inside the sealed evidence.

All evidence will be received using the lockboxes. Large, bulky cases will be received, sampled and returned. Please make arrangements prior to bringing large cases to allow time for the sampling. When mailing evidence to the laboratory, write “Attention DI” (do not write “Drugs”) on all outer packages. Mail drug evidence separately from other types of evidence and send to the appropriate laboratory.

For a better chain of custody, all drug evidence must be submitted to the laboratory in a sealed outer plastic bag and a secured inner plastic bag.

Sealed OUTER Plastic Bag:

The outer plastic bag should be at least 8” x 10” in size, clear on at least one side, and must be sealed with a tamper evident seal. This can be tamper-proof evidence tape, a tamper-proof seal, or heat seal. The initials of the sealing officer will be written on and extending across, this seal (that is, some of the initials will be on the seal as well as on the packaging). Care should be taken to ensure all self-sealing type evidence packages are in fact correctly closed to ensure a sealed condition. The following information must be clearly written on the outer sealed plastic bag: Name of suspect(s), Case officer(s), Law Enforcement Agency and case number, Prosecuting Agency, and Inventory of Contents.

Sandwich bags are not acceptable because of thin material used in construction. Heavy construction zip-lock plastic bags, freezer bags, or bags of a similar weight plastic are acceptable packages. No loose materials such as powders, tablets, capsules, crack cocaine chunks, marijuana, etc. should be placed in the outer bag unless first secured in an inner plastic bag. The evidence must be visible in the inner bag. Do not include any evidence receipts inside the outer plastic bag that need to be signed by DOFS personnel. Additional bags should be used to prevent overfilling the outer plastic bag because it must be resealed upon completion of the scientific analysis. Appropriately label evidence if obtained from an area of possible chemical or biohazard contaminations such as toilets, mouth, etc.

Secured INNER Plastic Bag:

The inner plastic bag must be secured so that the contents will not fall out of the bag. The inner bag must be clear on both sides. Like items should be grouped together and placed in one inner plastic bag. Different types of evidence must be packed so that cross-contamination does not occur (i.e. Do not place a marijuana pipe in a plastic bag with loose marijuana leaves).

Exceptions in Packaging:

• Any wet plant material (such as marijuana plants, leaves, mushrooms, etc.) must be dried before submitting. Allow the material to air dry before packaging and transporting to the lab. Trapped moisture will cause the evidence to rot and be unsuitable for analytical testing.
• Large bales of marijuana, kilos of cocaine, large plants, etc. may be submitted in large bags or as packaged.
• Liquids must be submitted in a leak-proof, screw-capped bottle placed in an outer sealed plastic bag. Liquids that present a biohazard (e.g. from toilet) should be clearly labeled as such.
• LSD is a light sensitive drug. When submitting possible LSD samples, package the samples in a manila envelope or small paper bag before placing in the outer plastic bag.

Clandestine laboratory evidence submissions:

All submitted clandestine laboratory evidence must be inspected and approved by designated DOFS staff before evidence will be received by the DOFS.

In addition to the normal precautions taken when working cases, the following conditions must be considered when analyzing clan lab submissions:

• Anhydrous ammonia is corrosive. Contact with liquid ammonia may cause immediate, severe chemical burns, as well as frostbite. Nonpressurized liquid ammonia will form ammonia gas. This gas is extremely corrosive and can burn and damage eyes, skin, mucous membranes, and any other exposed tissue. If inhaled, irritation of the respiratory system may occur, with coughing and breathing difficulty. Delayed pulmonary edema may occur following overexposure by inhalation. Overexposure to this gas may be fatal. Appropriate personal protection equipment must be worn. Items required are at a minimum, eye protection, hand protection and clothing protection. See MSDS for more information
• Liquids may be strongly acidic or alkaline and may emit hazardous vapors.
• Liquids may contain toxic solvents.
• Extraction may release toxic gases (e.g. phosphine).
• Sample containers may be under extreme pressure.
• Disguised incendiary devices may mistakenly be submitted as evidence (e.g. tin-foil balls).
• Solid materials may exhibit noxious odors – weighing in a fume hood may be required.

Packaging Requirements (excluding suspected anhydrous ammonia)

Liquid samples must be packaged in glass vials with teflon caps. Each glass vial must be contained within a polypropylene bottle to ensure that the liquid will be retained if the glass vial should break or leak. Each bottle must be packaged separately.

If samples are packaged in an unsuitable manner, this evidence will not be accepted.

A maximum of approximately 100 mL of liquid sample per evidence item will be accepted.

Packaging Requirements for anhydrous ammonia samples

All preliminary field testing for anhydrous ammonia must be performed. Only samples exhibiting positive results will be accepted. Documentation (utilizing OPS DI Form 25) of these tests must accompany the submitted sample.

Requesting agency must utilize DOFS approved sampling cylinder when collecting suspected liquid anhydrous ammonia sample. No sample will be transported, received or tested by GBI-DOFS staff in any unapproved container.

The following are mandatory items for anhydrous ammonia sample submission:
Swagelock – 304L-HDF4-150 Stainless Steel Sample Cylinder (with appropriate ANHYDROUS AMMONIA labeling) fitted with two SS-14DKM4-E valves with two SS-4-HC-7-4 Female Hose Connectors, assembled using teflon tape on all threads.

Non-Acceptable Items:

The following items will not be accepted by the laboratory for analysis or storage because of biological, chemical or physical safety hazards:

• Used presumptive field ID kits
• Large amounts of chemicals (submit only small, representative samples)
• Razor blades
• Syringes or the contents from syringes (contents may be submitted in life-threatening situations, only with prior DOFS approval)
• Wet water pipes
• Any other biohazards determined to be dangerous to laboratory personnel
• Seeds.  DOFS will not germinate seeds in order to perform testing for marijuana.
  

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