The Seized Drug Unit of the Broward Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory plays a vital role in the criminal justice system by identifying suspected controlled substances submitted by law enforcement agencies. Every day, our forensic scientists support investigations, dismantle drug trafficking operations and help keep dangerous substances out of South Florida's communities.

Evidence is received from arrests, search warrants, traffic stops and other law enforcement activities. The unit's primary objective is to determine whether a substance is classified as controlled under Florida Statutes §893. Analysts examine a wide range of materials—including powders, crystalline substances, tablets and capsules (both pharmaceutical and counterfeit), liquids and plant matter.

To ensure accurate identification, the unit employs advanced instrumentation such as Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) with Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and Microscopy. These technologies allow scientists to detect and confirm the presence of both common and emerging substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and its analogs, heroin, oxycodone, MDMA (ecstasy), synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones (commonly known as "bath salts" or FLAKKA) and new psychoactive substances.