Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says the SAPS has strengthened evidence-handling procedures, including chain-of-custody controls, secure storage and forensic referrals, following concerns raised before the Madlanga Commission about seized drugs.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says 28 bags seized in a drug operation were transported to the Forensic Science Laboratory for testing, following concerns raised before the Madlanga Commission over the handling and storage of seized drugs.
Cachalia was responding to a parliamentary question from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, who asked what measures the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) had implemented to ensure the seized consignment was not compromised.
James also sought details on the consignment’s chain of custody, storage, transportation and forensic analysis, as well as whether lessons from the Madlanga Commission had been incorporated into SAPS procedures for handling major drug seizures.
Cachalia confirmed that the consignment had been transferred to the Forensic Science Laboratory.
