[[A substance that “could be described as illicit narcotics”]]
Or,could be described as pink elephant wearing a tutu singing “all long the watchtower” if one was so inclined to describe it as such.
Was it illicit drugs or not? Simple question. Some drugs are not classified yet and so technically aren’t illegal yet. Don’t they test the drugs right on the scene these days?
That was my reaction. Could it be described as anything OTHER than illicit drugs? If not, then don’t write your sentence so equivocally.