Don’t Take “Positive” for an Answer
NarcoPouch tests are presumptive field drug tests that police officers
rely on to establish probable cause for arrests. Officers must establish
probable cause
before administering field drug tests, but it could simply be a suspect swerving
out of a lane, driving 5 mph below the posted speed limit or failing to
yield. Suspects must be aware of the fact that NarcoPouch tests have been
linked to countless wrongful drug convictions throughout the United States,
and there seems to be no end in sight.
You can think of these tests as “mini drug tests” that police
officers carry around with them wherever they go. It seems like an effective
idea to save time and money by identifying drugs without first submitting
them for a crime lab analysis, but unfortunately, it results in false
positive drug test results. Thus, if a police officer pulls you over,
tests your “drugs” using a NarcoPouch and learns that the
substances were illegal, you could get charged with drug possession and
deal with a host of issues as a result.
How It Works
NarcoPouch tests are popular for their convenience and rapid screening
of illicit substances. They contain pre-mixed solvent and reagent chemicals
that are intended to produce a certain color when mixed with certain drugs.
An officer puts a sample of the “illegal” substance into the
NarcoPouch and awaits the chemical reaction. The reaction will produce
a color change, which the officer is responsible for interpreting. When
added to NarcoPouches, illegal drugs produce different colors depending
on what they are, if anything.
Where the Problem Lies
Human error: Police officers must be trained in field drug test procedures and administration
as well as have thorough knowledge of interpreting the field drug test
results. If an officer pulls someone over on suspicion of drug crimes
but does not have comprehensive training in NarcoPouch tests, they may
charge a suspect based on the slight possibility that their drugs were
“illegal.”
Inconclusiveness: In several incidents, including experiments, NarcoPouch tests were used
to screen plant and household products. They not only tested positive
for marijuana but also peppermint, vanilla, cinnamon leaf, lemongrass,
soaps, perfumes, cologne and more. Thus, it’s fair to assert that
NarcoPouch tests work proficiently in regard to identifying illicit drugs,
however, they also identify
legal substances and are thus inconclusive altogether. This flaw could cause
officers to arrest a suspect for possessing liquid soap or even tea.
External factors: Since NarcoPouch tests are chemical tests, external factors like warm
and cold climates could interfere with the test process and results. Cold
and warm climates are both significant in the reaction phase of the testing
process, as colder climates may slow the reaction while warm climates
may speed it up. Further, if NarcoPouch tests are not stored properly
or unused for several years, the solvents and reagents may be compromised.
If a police officer is not mindful of these considerations, then a suspect
may end up in jail for a crime they didn’t commit.
Challenging Your Charges & Scrutinizing your Drug Test Results
Derek A. Adame, Attorney at Law is committed to achieving justice on behalf
of every client we represent. Texas is harsh on prosecuting drug crimes,
as it is among the strictest states against illicit substances. However, our
Denton drug crime defense attorney will examine every detail of your charges, beginning from the moment you
interacted with the arresting officer, to ensure the police didn’t
make any costly mistakes that influenced your charges.
Count on us to champion your freedom every step of the way. Get started
on fighting your charges today by
contacting us at (940) 591 - 0005.