Kochi: The Kochi city police have sent the saliva samples of all the cocaine case accused to the National Forensic Laboratory, New Delhi, to establish the police claim that the accused smoked cocaine on the day they were arrested.

The cops are also planning to conduct DNA test on the accused. The police made the move after finding that the Regional Chemical Examiners’ laboratory, Kakkanad, does not have the expertise or advanced machinery to find cocaine in the samples of the accused.

According to Ernakulam Assistant Commissioner of Police, S.T. Suresh Kumar, the investigation was progressing well.

An advanced study at NFSL, New Delhi, would prove that the accused, including actor Shine Tom Chacko, were under the influence of cocaine when they were arrested.

The blood sample results of the accused were negative. The ACP claims that cocaine traces, unlike many other drugs, cannot be found in the blood. It has to be established after examining the saliva samples.