Forensic Science Labs in crisis: confiscated drug samples go missing
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been reliably informed that eleven bags of narcotics seized from OR Tambo airport that had been taken to the Pretoria Forensic Science Lab (FSL) for testing, disappeared between 2007 and 2008.
Apparently eleven bags of drugs were stolen from the FSL between July 2007 and March 2008, with an estimated value of R50 million. Two of the bags of drugs stolen in March 2008 were after the Laboratory had installed CCTV cameras. The alleged thefts took place in the following timeframes:
- 6 bags stolen in July 2007
- 1 bag stolen in August 2007
- 2 bags stolen in October 2007
- 2 bags stolen in March 2008
Cases have been opened into some of the stolen drugs reported and are apparently being investigated by the Organised Crime Unit. Commissioner Du Toit, who briefed the Portfolio Committee last week, said that there was only one FSL drug theft incident under investigation for 2007, and three for 2008. It is unclear whether any of these are the particular incidents refered to above, but even if they are, this still suggests not all of the incidents above are under investigation.
Why are the other instances not under investigation? Apparently, all of these incidents have been reported to Commissioner Ngokha and he has seemingly done little.
In addition, there was a fire in the drug sample store room in January of this year, indicating that improper attention had been paid to the safe storage of exhibits.
We understand that the person who was allegedly identified by CCTV tapes to have taken bags of drugs in 2008, and who works for the lab in an administrative capacity, has since been promoted and has allegedly purchased a house valued at close to R3 million. No arrests have been made in connection with the missing drugs. We understand that the same individual has allegedly been implicated in another dubious occurrence during 2009, where bags of samples handed in for analysis allegedly had the bag numbers on them switched.
These incidents cast doubt on the integrity of the laboratories that are a fundamental aspect of crime detection in particular and on the SAPS in general. If the SAPS cannot even deal with crime within its own ranks, how can it efficiently solve crimes in society at large?
I will be writing to the Divisional Commissioner to ensure that proper sample safety measures are put into place immediately and that this individual be suspended pending a full investigation.
Statement issued by Debbie Schafer, MP, Democratic Alliance deputy shadow minister of police, February 10 2010
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