Cocaine

• Cocaine -plant (Erythroxylum). Stimulant

• Origin: Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and Panama.

• Cocaine - packed in paper or plastic packs of white powder .

• Purpose of analysis; • Detect, identify, quantify.• User of report: • Police, Prosecutors, Defense

lawyers, Judicial officers, Medical Personnel, family members and other interested parties.

• Future plans of analysis:• Identify the country or region of

origin

Production of Heroin

• Heroin - plant Papaver somniferum (opium poppy). Depressant

• Origin: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Burma, Guatemala, Mexico, Columbia.

• Heroin - packed in paper or plastic packs of white or brown powder.

• Purpose of analysis; • Detect, identify, quantify, • User of report: • Police, Prosecutors, Defense

lawyers, Judicial officers, Medical Personnel, family members and other interested parties.

• Future plans of analysis:• Identify the country or region of

origin

Cannabis, cannabis resin

• Herbal cannabis: plant Cannabis sativa. Hallucinogen

• Origin: Africa, the Caribbean or South East Asia

• Types: Cannabis herbal, Cannabis resin (hashish), Cannabis oil (hash oil)

• Cannabis - packed in paper or plastic packs.

• Purpose of analysis; • Detect, identify, quantify, • User of report: • Police, Prosecutors, Defense

lawyers, Judicial officers, Medical Personnel, family members and other interested parties.

• Future plans of analysis:• Identify the country or region of

origin

Khat

• Khat – plant (Catha edulis) Stimulant

• Origin: Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, The Arabian Peninsula, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.

• Active components - cathinone and cathine

• Both (synthetic drugs) cathine and cathinone are scheduled under the UN 1971 Convention,

• But khat itself is only specifically listed in a few jurisdictions.

• Purpose of analysis; • Detect, identify, quantify.• User of report: • Police, Prosecutors, Defense

lawyers, Judicial officers, Medical Personnel, family members and other interested parties

Inhalants

• This class includes glue, gasoline, and aerosols like nasal sprays.

• Purpose of analysis; • Detect, identify, quantify, • User of report: • Police, Prosecutors,

Defense lawyers, Judicial officers, Medical Personnel, family members and other interested parties.

Risk of drug abuse

• Adulteration can pose a health threat

• Hepatitis, inflammation of the liver caused by drugs, or toxic chemicals,

• Sharing of contaminated needles is the primary cause of HIV infection

• Mental illness – Psychosis results from substance abuse

• Social issues such as homelessness, poverty as a cause of drug dependence, unemployment.

• Economic issues such as cost of treatment, loss of manpower

Fire and explosions:

• Purpose of Analysis • Locate point of origin; determine

whether was accidental or intentional.• Identify type of accelerant/explosive

was used. • Type of cases:• Explosive cases (e.g. terrorism),

accidents, arson, putting a competitor out of business, revenge, insurance fraud, suicide or murder.

• Effects of fire and explosion• Injuries, deaths, disasters, damage

of properties (e.g. buildings) or business, environmental hazards

• User of report• Police, Prosecutors, Defense lawyers,

Judicial officers, Insurance companies, Business Community, Individuals and other interested parties.

Questioned Documents

• Purpose of Analysis • To establish that a particular person

carried out an activity like signing a check

• Determine whether a document is authentic; assess whether a document has been altered in any way; compare handwriting, signatures, and typewritten or photocopied documents; determine the sources of papers and inks;

• Types of cases• Cheating, forgery (e.g. currency

forgery, art forgery, passport forgery, certificate forgery, check forgery, receipt forgery) frauds.

• User of report• Police, Prosecutors, Defense lawyers,

Judicial officers, Insurance companies, Business Community, Individuals and other interested parties.

Comparing glass fragments and paint flakes

• Purpose of Analysis • To establish that a particular

person was at a given place at a given time.

Type of cases• Cheating, burglary, robbery (e.g.

breaking and entering), road traffic accidents, vandalism, hit and run cases, suspected vehicle homicides

• User of report• Police, Prosecutors, Defense

lawyers, Judicial officers, Insurance companies, Business Community, Individuals and other interested parties.

Comparing shoeprints, tire prints

• Purpose of Analysis • To establish that a particular

person was at a given place at a given time.

• Link a suspect with a crime scene,

• Using shoeprints to identify the suspect, identifying tire tracks as evidence

• Type of cases• The gunshot residue can

indicate that the gun fired; the location of gunshot residue on the suspect’s hand can indicate that s/he handled a gun.

Comparing Soil

• Purpose of Analysis • To establish that a

particular person was at a given place at a given time.

• Link a suspect with a crime scene

• Type of cases• Burglary, robbery road

traffic accidents, assault, murder, hit and run cases.

Comparing fingerprints

• Purpose of Analysis • To establish that a

particular person was at a given place at a given time.

• Comparing fingerprints from suspected physical and biological evidences for human identification.

• Type of cases• Burglary, robbery (e.g.

breaking and entering).

Comparing tool marks used

• Purpose of Analysis • To establish that

something was done with a particular instrument.

• Comparing tool marks used e.g. breaking a door

• Type of cases• Burglary, robbery (e.g.

breaking and entering).

Identification of Gunshot residue (GSR)

• Purpose of Analysis • To establish that

something was done with a particular instrument.

• GSR can indicate that the gun fired; the location of GSR on the suspect’s hand can indicate that s/he handled a gun.

• Type of cases• Burglary, robbery,

murder.

To Restore Erased Serial numbers on vehicles, firearms.

• Purpose of Analysis• To restore erased

numbers on vehicles, firearms and other valuable gadgets.

• Type of cases• Cheating, erased

numbers on vehicles

GCLA contributions

• GCLA contributes to the detection, reduction and prevention of crimes.

• User of our analytical reports for forensic reasons include among others:

• Ministries, Independent Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Police, Prosecutors, Defense lawyers, Judicial officers, Medical Personnel, Plaintiffs, Insurance companies, researchers, business community, family members and individuals.

The evidence linkage triangle

• The evidence linkage triangle

Scene (s)

Evidence

Victim (s) Suspect (s)