Pubdate: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2001 Southam Inc. Contact: 300 - 1450 Don Mills Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3R5 Fax: (416) 442-2209 Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~nationalpost Author: Steven Edwards CANADA AIDING DRUG BARONS, UN EXPERT SAYS Chemicals Not Monitored UNITED NATIONS Lax Canadian monitoring of imported chemicals is helping drug barons in Mexico and the United States produce "ice," a stimulant known as the poor man's cocaine, a United Nations drug expert charged yesterday. In violation of an international agreement signed by Ottawa in 1988, the federal government has no idea what happens to chemicals used as drug ingredients after they enter the country, said Herbert Shaepe, secretary of the UN's International Narcotics Control Board, based in Geneva. Mr. Shaepe said at least some of the chemicals are smuggled out of the country and end up in the hands of illicit-drug manufacturers. Ottawa admits it has been slow in improving its monitoring procedures for such chemicals, but says it is working on legislation to comply with the 13-year-old treaty. Mr. Shaepe spoke ahead of the release today of the board's annual report on the state of the world's drug monitoring systems. "There is currently no monitoring system to prevent Canadian territory from being used to divert chemicals for the illicit manufacture of drugs in other countries," the report says. Under the 1988 Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Canada is obliged to track chemicals known as "precursors" that are used to make drugs. The board believes Canadian imports of ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine are being smuggled to clandestine drug laboratories in Mexico and the United States to produce ice, the street name for methamphetamine, Mr. Shaepe said. "In the last two or three years, since Mexico and the U.S. have put controls on these substances, imports of the chemicals to Canada have gone up and up," he explained. "Canada is buying tremendous quantities of these chemicals from Europe, China and India. We cannot accept that such amounts are for medical use alone. Eighteen tonnes arrived in January alone." Ephedrine is used in the manufacture of decongestants, among other medicines. "The Canadian authorities just issue 'no objection' certificates," Mr. Shaepe continued. "They don't care about the final destination." Canadian officials deny the charge. "There is no evidence that Canada is a source of the chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs," said Mike O'Shaughnessy, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs. "The RCMP maintains a successful voluntary program under which they co-operate with the chemical industry." Nevertheless, he added that Canada is "preparing regulations to comply with the parts of the 1988 UN convention that apply to the control of precursor chemicals." Last year's report lambasted Canada for failing to comply with a 1971 treaty requiring controls to ensure anti-depressants and mind-altering drugs, such as diet and sleeping pills, do not end up on the black market. Last September, Ottawa placed 44 such drugs under the umbrella of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, in accordance with its international obligations. "That step closed one of the last significant gaps in the international control system for psychotropic substances," the report says. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth