Forensic Science Service Receives Cutting Edge Equipment
Another donation by the U.S. Embassy was granted to the National Forensic Science Service in Ladyville in the form of cutting edge equipment. A gas chromatograph mass spectrometer machine, also referred to as the Ghost, was received by the department this afternoon at a brief handing over ceremony. Valued at approximately three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, the equipment will be used for analysis drugs such as cocaine and marijuana.
David Henderson, Director, National Forensic Science
“This machine is one of the most modern and it is known as Ghost in the forensic world. This machine will better be able to assist the forensic department in the analyzing of unknown substance, fire, trace material and any unknown substance that we might not be able to…that we are not aware of.”
Carlos Moreno
Carlos Moreno, U.S. Ambassador to Belize
“Today we have the pleasure of transferring ownership of a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, which is an instrument that is used in science labs to evaluate and analyze controlled substances: marijuana, cocaine, parted as well as rock cocaine, unknown substance, bunk or fake substances or mislabeled substances. So this is an instrument that the forensic scientists will be able to use here. It will be heavy dependent on proper training, however, or police who are collecting the evidence to make sure that in the first instance that the evidence is not contaminated—it is collected properly.”
David Henderson
David Henderson
“This department is fairly young because if you look at the forensic department, the end of January, we will only be three years. I think that we are trying to step up to standard and we must reach to the international standard.”
Duane Moody
“How is this going to help with what you guys do on a general basis and to assist with the combating of crime?”
David Henderson
“Well one of the things, as you might be aware, when it comes to toxicology and thing; we used to do very limited. But now we will be able to better address toxicology; any sort of substance and even pharmaceutical drugs.”
