SEIZED drugs with a street value of almost £500,000 were handled in a “chaotic” way by police, a court has heard.

Mark Johnson, of Weymann Terrace, Cowley, and Michael Krah, of Stowford Road, Barton, both deny conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis between July 1 and July 26, 2010.

On the second day of their trial at Oxford Crown Court yesterday defence barrister Adrian Langdale questioned how the drugs were dealt with after they were discovered.

The stash was handed over by landlord Raymond Duckett, who found it inside black plastic bags, rucksacks and a cardboard box hidden in his empty rental flat in Reliance Way, Cowley.

Prosecution barrister Justine Davidge told the jury fingerprints from the two 35-year-old defendants were on the bags, while DNA matching Krah was inside a black leather glove found with the drugs.

But Mr Langdale said there was a chance the DNA had got inside the glove when the police moved the drugs.

Questioning expert witness Tania Nickson, from LGC Forensics, he said: “A number of items are kept together, moved together, and put into the boot of a car together.

“There is a danger there of transfer, isn’t there?”

Mrs Nickson replied: “There is a danger of transfer, yes.”

Cross examining Pc Matthew Hunt, who was the first police officer to see the drugs, Mr Langdale suggested their handling had been “chaotic”. He said: “You cannot actually say, three years on, what has come into contact with what?”

The officer replied: “I can’t recall where the bags were put in full, but I certainly didn’t take anything out of the bags.”

The trial continues.