Abdullah said K. Sharmilah, a government toxicologist, told the court Wednesday she examined the drug along with several other samples provided by police.

Atropine provides “primary protection against exposure to chemical nerve agents and insecticide poisoning,” according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

“If you know someone is coming after you with a nerve agent, atropine is a key drug you would want to carry,” said Nial Wheate, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutics at the University of Sydney.