A State General Laboratory official testified before the Nicosia Assize Court on Tuesday, outlining the procedures used to analyse more than 15 kilograms of cocaine seized by police in 2019 in the retrial of Giorgos Christodoulou, known as "Zavrantonas."
The witness was called by the prosecution to explain the examination of the substances found inside a military-style bag seized during the investigation.
Notably, the military bag bearing the National Guard logo, along with the packages containing the cocaine, was brought into court as part of the proceedings.
High-purity cocaine
The laboratory official told the court that the bag contained 14 packages of suspected drugs.
Testing showed that all 14 packages contained cocaine, with a total net weight of 15.016 kilograms.
According to the witness, the cocaine had an average purity level of around 75%, which she described as high, although comparable cases typically involve purity levels ranging between 75% and 85%.
She added that no analysis was conducted for other non-controlled substances or additives that may have been present in the samples.
The witness also stated that the cocaine appeared to originate from Latin America.
Defence challenges evidence
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Christos Poutziouris questioned whether it was possible to determine the country in which the drugs had been produced, with the witness replying that this could not be established.
She also confirmed that the samples had previously been sent to the Institute of Neurology and Genetics for DNA analysis before being examined by the State General Laboratory.
The defence further suggested that the quantity of cocaine delivered to the laboratory by police was not the same quantity originally found in the military bag when it was seized.
The witness responded that all exhibits she received and examined were sealed, adding that any questions regarding their handling prior to their arrival at the laboratory fell under the responsibility of the police.
Next hearings scheduled
Following consultations between the prosecution and defence, the court scheduled the next hearings for 30 and 31 July.
