Yes they are. He said a researcher shared that information with police officers, not that they did anything but say "thanks a lot, this will help". I'm willing

Yes they are. He said a researcher shared that information with police officers, not that they did anything but say "thanks a lot, this will help". I'm willing to bet no officer on the drug enforcement team even read the paper. No law local enforcement agency will known how to even begin step 2, and none will waste the time and resources for step 3.