The Papers Went Back

Insiders at a pharmaceutical laboratory took documents from its files describing how to manufacture several antibiotics and a steroid. The papers were carried to a confederate's home, photocopied or microfilmed, and notes were made. The originals were then put back in the files. Only the copies and notes went overseas, to drug makers in Europe who were willing to pay five and six figures for the secret processes. The accused were charged with transporting stolen goods abroad. Their defence: the originals never left; the copies were never the laboratory's property, so nothing 'stolen' was transported.