Kazakhstan is testing wastewater for narcotic and psychoactive substances. The results of the analyses may be used to gather evidence in cases involving underground drug laboratories. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Who collects the samples
Samples of domestic wastewater are collected by law enforcement officers. The materials are then sent to chemical-toxicological departments of forensic examination, where specialists try to detect drugs, medicinal substances and their decomposition products.
What experts say
Nazgul Imambayeva, deputy director of the Center for Forensic Examinations of the Ministry of Justice, said that detecting prohibited substances in wastewater is difficult due to their low concentration.
"Sample preparation itself takes up a very large amount of work in order to extract some narcotic or psychoactive substance from this mass," Imambayeva said.
Experts use high-performance analytical equipment for the research. It makes it possible to detect traces of substances and their metabolites even in highly diluted samples.
Interior Ministry's explanation
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov explained that water, soil and other materials are examined after operational information is received.
"We work on signals. First of all, I would like to note that more than 30 drug laboratories have been identified in our country," Adilov said.
The Interior Ministry noted that the results of several studies at once can complement each other and form an evidence base for criminal cases. At the same time, the ministry did not specify how many drug laboratories were discovered directly thanks to wastewater analysis.