ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Alaska State Troopers have opened a criminal investigation of the Public Safety Department’s own crime lab.
Troopers in an announcement say irregularities were discovered in “substance reference standards,” the specimens of a drug used in the testing of illegal drugs.
The irregularities were found in substance reference standards for morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, opium, codeine and amphetamine.
Troopers say foreign matter was found in the standards.
The crime lab notified its accrediting body and an audit is being conducted of the substance reference standards.
Troopers say new, more sensitive testing instruments acquired by the lab detected the irregularities.
Troopers say Department of Law attorneys are contacting defense attorneys who have cases that involved the irregular standards.
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