SAP 83(a)

The normal lifecycle of drug exhibits involves analysis to confirm they are drugs, filing trial reports, and options for destruction after trial completion.

“You have got exhibits, they need to be analysed, the lab needs to give you a Section 212 analysis report confirming that it is drugs... But once the trial is completed, then you complete this SAP 83 A for them to destroy... That is a SAP 83 A. That is in a normal course of things.”

If an exhibit has not gone for analysis and the case is going nowhere, the SAP 83 A form can be completed and exhibits handed back to the lab for destruction.

“If your exhibits have not gone for analysis, and you have got them lying, or even if they have gone for analysis, but they have not analysed them yet, and then you realise, okay, my case is going nowhere... you can also complete that SAP 83 A at that stage, and hand it to the lab to ask them to destroy those exhibits.”

Destruction of exhibits happens only after SAP 83(a) is issued, indicating the case report was sent to court and decision taken; thus, an exhibit cannot be destroyed before SAP 83 is issued.

“destruction happens when SAP 83(a) is issued out, and that means the report was sent to the court and then the decision is taken. So, I do not know that an exhibit can be destroyed before an SAP 83 is issued”

The SAP 83(a) form is used to instruct the laboratory on what to do with the exhibits, such as destruction.

“The SAP 83(a) is a form that we send to the laboratory and tell them what we want done on the exhibits. It goes with a packing note.”