Pubdate: Sat, 01 Feb 2003
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2003, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Paul Koring, Jeff Sallot

U.S. FAULTS CANADA FOR LETTING DRUGS ACROSS BORDER

Ottawa Failing To Crack Down On Exports Of Ingredient In Speed, White House 
Says

WASHINGTON and OTTAWA -- Ottawa's belated efforts to throttle massive and 
illicit shipments to the United States of a chemical used to make illegal 
narcotics were called "inadequate" yesterday by President George W. Bush, 
adding yet another irritant to growing border disputes.

While praising Canadian police, the White House faulted Ottawa for failing 
to crack down on soaring exports -- likely more than 100 tonnes annually -- 
of pseudoephedrine, a key chemical component of methamphetamine, which is 
also known as speed.

White House drug czar John Walters said methamphetamine use is rising 
rapidly in the United States in a deadly echo of the crack epidemic. A 
substantial portion of pseudoephedrine used to make speed comes from 
Canada, he said yesterday in an interview, adding that he believes Canadian 
authorities know that new federal regulations that came into force in 
January are inadequate and that tough rules to control the illicit export 
are needed.

Solicitor-General Wayne Easter said U.S. concerns about pseudoephedrine 
have been largely addressed in the new regulations, but if not, Ottawa will 
review them. He noted that the drug trade is a two-way street and illegal 
narcotics come into Canada from the United States, too.

The White House said "the regulations . . . should be stronger."

Canada was included for the first time yesterday in an annual U.S. report 
that names the offenders in the international illicit drug trade. The 
Netherlands was also in the report for the first time, although neither 
country was on the 23-nation list of major drug-exporting countries, which 
was unchanged from last year and includes nations such as Burma, Colombia, 
Guatemala and Nigeria.

Canada and the Netherlands were named for failing to stop illicit exports 
of synthetic drugs to the United States. However, the Dutch government 
received high praise for its efforts.

"We are confident that the government of the Netherlands is committed to 
close collaboration and co-operation internationally to eliminate ecstasy 
production and trafficking," said Paul Simons, acting Assistant Secretary 
of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Mr. Simons said Ottawa wasn't doing enough. "We would like the Canadians to 
take a closer look at who it is that's importing these substances," he said.

Drug Enforcement Agency officials have claimed that gangs of Arabs in 
Canada with links to terrorist groups have reaped huge profits from illicit 
exports of pseudoephedrine to the United States.

The RCMP say they have no evidence of links to terrorist groups, and 
defence lawyers for some of the more than 100 men charged in connection 
with illicit imports of pseudoephedrine from Canada call accusations of 
terrorist links a smear campaign.

While neither the White House nor the State Department repeated that 
accusation yesterday, the inclusion of Canada in Mr. Bush's annual 
determination of countries contributing to the global illicit drug trade 
signalled that Washington plans to intensify pressure on Ottawa to crack 
down further.

"Although the United States enjoys an excellent level of bilateral 
co-operation with Canada, the United States government is concerned that 
Canada is a primary source of pseudoephedrine and an increasing source of 
high-potency marijuana," the report said.

U.S. officials say imports of pseudoephedrine into Canada have soared in 
the past five years to more than 170 tonnes annually from about 30 tonnes. 
While the chemical is a legitimate ingredient in cold remedies, Washington 
believes that most of a huge increase in imports to Canada is being 
clandestinely shipped into the United States to make methamphetamine.

Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former agent with the Canadian Security 
Intelligence Service, dismissed the U.S. action as "pure politicking."

"The U.S. has been trying to make us a scapegoat for a long time. As far as 
I'm concerned, it's all just a big, political game. They're trying to pass 
the buck, but the fact is, it stops with them.

"Now it's drugs. Before, they accused us of letting in terrorists. And that 
was bogus, too. The Sept. 11 hijackers didn't come through Canada. They 
came through the front door."
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