With the testimony of an official from the General State Chemical Laboratory, proceedings continued on Tuesday before the Nicosia Criminal Court against Giorgos Christodoulou, also known as “Zavrantona,” regarding the importation and possession of more than 15 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of distribution. The defense argued that the quantity of cocaine brought by the police to the General Chemical Laboratory was not the same as that found in the confiscated military bag, to which the witness replied that the evidence she received was sealed.

During today’s hearing before the Court, M.K., who had conducted analyses on behalf of the General Chemical Laboratory regarding the seized narcotics, stated that she received a military bag containing 14 packages of drugs. The results of the examination, he said, showed that all 14 packages contained cocaine, with a total net weight of 15.016 kilograms, which appears to have originated in Latin America.

He added that the cocaine content of the samples averaged close to 75%, a purity level that, as he noted, is also found in other similar cases, as it typically ranges between 75% and 85%. She described the purity level as high, while adding that no testing was conducted for other uncontrolled substances or additives that might have been present in the samples.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Christos Poutzouris asked the witness if it was possible to determine where the substances were manufactured, to which she replied in the negative.

When asked whether the samples had been tampered with, the witness stated that before they were sent to the General Chemical Laboratory, they had been transferred to the Institute of Genetics for DNA analysis.

When asked whether the analyses could determine the time the substance was manufactured, the General Chemical Laboratory official also answered in the negative.

At this point, Mr. Poutzouris argued that the amount of cocaine brought to the General Chemical Laboratory by the police is not the same as the amount that was in the military bag when it was seized by the police.

The witness replied that the evidence she received and examined was sealed, stating that the rest was a matter for the police.

In response to a question from Mr. Poutzouris regarding her participation in a drug destruction committee, the officer replied that she had participated twice, in 2018 and 2014, with Mr. Poutzouris arguing that she was the only one of her colleagues to have participated in that committee. The witness replied that this was not true and that representatives of the General Chemical Laboratory participate on a rotating basis.

In response to Mr. Poutzouris’s remark regarding two sets of scales found with traces of cocaine and cannabis—which may have been used for previous samples— the official said that such a scenario is indeed possible.

The representative of the prosecution, Vasilis Bissas, informed the court that the next witness is currently out of work and requested that a new date be set, while also submitting a request to add two new witnesses, to which the defense raised no objection.

The court approved the addition of the 21st and 22nd witnesses, respectively, and scheduled the continuation of the proceedings for July 30 and 31 at 9:30 a.m., with the defendant to remain in custody.

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Source: CNA