Our drug specialists routinely provide guidance on a wide range of drug-related issues pertaining to substances regulated by The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, etc.) as well as emerging psychoactive substances governed by The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (including nitrous oxide and 'Spice'). Our Services Include: Scrutinizing drug exhibits and reviewing the findings and assessments of other experts. Facilitating drug testing or retesting for the purpose of identifying substances, assessing purity, and identifying cutting agents. Investigating potential concerns related to contamination. Evaluating cannabis cultivation cases, including potential yield calculations, valuation of assets, and assessment of scene records. Addressing various issues related to cannabinoids, particularly in CBD and low-THC products. Analyzing synthetic drug production, including the manufacturing processes, required materials, and yield calculations. Providing drug valuations for legal proceedings, sentencing, or determining benefit figures for applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). Conducting comparisons between different drugs and their packaging materials. Examining trace evidence of drugs on items such as banknotes, mobile phones, or clothing. Interpreting text messages for content related to drug activities and assessing the scale of drug trading. Assessing patterns of drug usage. Offering guidance on various aspects of drug-related legislation. Our experts are highly experienced forensic scientists who can contextualize their findings by considering intelligence data and published literature. They can identify drug samples through microscopic examination or chemical analysis as needed and provide advice on unique or specialized drug-related matters. Moreover, we have substantial expertise in broader aspects related to cannabis cultivation cases. In this capacity, we can evaluate the feasibility and suitability of cultivation setups, address concerns about electricity abstraction, assess the level of sophistication involved, and provide valuations for equipment and assets.
