Goa Forensic lab to get 12 types of drug test kits

PANAJI: The Goa State Forensic Science Laboratory (GSFSL) has decided to procure around 12 different types of narcotic testing kits to test narcotic substances, including chemical drugs. Presently, police depend on forensic labs outside the state to conduct the test to complete the investigation.

A senior police officer said once the kit is tested at the lab, then full-fledged testing of narcotic substances will start at the lab.


Presently, ganja and charas is tested at the directorate of food and drug administration (FDA) lab and chemical drugs are sent outside the state.

In the last seven months, police have not been able to make any progress in about 25 cases involving chemical drugs as the CFSL at Hyderabad and Delhi are not accepting samples due to unavailability of reference material. Reference material is used to identify the drugs. Earlier this month CFSL Kolkata has started accepting samples for the test.

Till October 7, this year, police booked 173 cases in the state under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested 182 persons and seized different drugs too.

A senior officer said these days, anti-narcotic cell (ANC) and local police generally catch peddlers and dealers with chemical drugs. He said the drugs are sent to the laboratory for confirmation, but they do not have reference material for comparison. This leads to delay in disposal of cases and helps the accused get bail. Police had registered a 400% rise in drug cases in 2017 as compared to 2016, after CM Manohar Parrikar ordered a crackdown on the drug trade, which saw police book 161 cases under the NDPS and arrest 172 peddlers and dealers. Synthetic drugs are imported by foreigners and mostly used during parties. “These drugs are sold during the peak tourist season,” another officer said.

The officer said after analysing the data ANC found that 30 foreigners held in drugs cases arrived through the Dabolim airport.