A POLICE informant testifying against three high-profile police officers facing drug charges told the Johannesburg high court that he was not an expert but could identify drugs.

"Cocaine is in the form of a powder and you place it on your tongue," Norman Kokoeng demonstrated to the court yesterday.

"If you put cocaine on your tongue it will give you a certain reaction . I'm not an expert but that is how I tell the difference between different types of drugs."

Kokoeng was testifying at the trial of Senior Superintendent Dumisani Jwara, Captains Victor Jwili and Landro Mokgosani of the West Rand organised crime unit. Jwara was the unit's head. A fourth officer, Captain Caiphus Shange, died in prison in July.

The three officers face charges of drug dealing, attempted theft, fraud and defeating the ends of justice. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Kokoeng told the court: "I gave Jwara information about a house in Olivedale, Johannesburg, and a few days later he had the drugs in his possession."

Defence attorney Nardus Grove asked him how he knew the drugs were from the raid conducted at the house.

"It was not long after I had given him the address. It was maybe one or two days later," Kokoeng said.