The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced on Saturday their investigation into thousands of cases handled by a chemist who may have swapped prescription pain pills with over-the-counter medicine, the Associated Press reported.
FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey said the chemist, whose identity has not been released, has been working for the state since 2006 and handled cases involving 80 law enforcement agencies from 35 counties -- most of which involved testing drug evidence.
An investigation was launched after authorities in Escambia County discovered evidence was missing and later came across evidence packages containing over-the-counter pills.
Bailey said if it is determined that the chemist tampered with evidence, drug charges will have to be dropped and inmates may be let go.
"This has the potential of impacting hundreds of drug cases across our state," Bailey said. "This is a total shock and a disappointment."
Agents from the department are reviewing each case handled by the chemist, who will remain on paid leave as the investigation continues. Officials are also contacting state attorneys and law enforcement agencies that have pending cases.
"We are going back and looking at each case that was worked and we are going to the evidence rooms of sheriff's departments and police departments around the state and actually physically looking - especially at the prescription meds - to see if what is in that particular package is in fact a prescription medication and not in fact an over-the-counter calcium tablet," Bailey said.
He added that police are unsure of a motive and that the chemist is not cooperating.
"The quantities are large," Bailey said. "It's early in the investigation. We don't know if the individual is a user or a trafficker."
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement regarding the case.
"The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is a top notch law enforcement agency. I continue to have complete confidence in them and their work. This situation simply underlines the extent of the problem our country faces with prescription drug abuse," Bondi said in an email.
