Pubdate: Mon, 09 Feb 2004
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Keith Bradford
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

TEAM TO TARGET METH LABS

Mounties are waging war on Alberta's methamphetamine problem by spending 
nearly $3.5 million assigning five officers to hunt down clandestine labs 
full time. The RCMP will target large-scale labs run by organized crime 
groups drawn to the huge profits they can make from the highly addictive 
drug. But the chairman of a Camrose-based task force tackling meth 
addiction has warned that although he welcomes the move, police may be 
fighting a losing battle unless federal chemical control laws are changed.

"Doing something is better than doing nothing, but we are quite a bit 
behind on this issue in Canada," said Kerry Laberge, chairman of the 
Camrose-based Drug Response Task Force. "The (busts) will probably be a 
drop in the bucket."

The Sun revealed yesterday that Alberta Mounties busted nine labs in 2003, 
but have not laid meth production or trafficking charges in connection with 
any of them.

Part of the problem has been federal chemical control laws, which make it 
difficult to lay charges when the finished product - methamphetamine - is 
not found in labs.

But Sgt. Harold Trupish, who is heading up the new RCMP initiative, said 
having five officers dedicated to fighting the meth problem - instead of 
just him - will make a big difference.

"We will more specifically target clandestine labs," he said. "It gives us 
a better ability to focus and co-ordinate."

Trupish said he's not permitted to comment on Canada's chemical control 
laws, because it's a federal issue. But he said even when charges aren't 
laid in connection with busts, the labs they find are still dismantled and 
shut down for good.

"I still think the public's better off when we at least curtail some kind 
of production," he said. "We are taking stuff away from people and 
preventing others using it down the road."

The initiative, which will cost $3.46 million over five years, is expected 
to be launched at the end of March when recruitment and training is complete.

B.C. has funding for a similar scheme and other provinces are expected to 
follow suit. Trupish said although organized crime labs will be targeted 
specifically, smaller labs will also be investigated.

"Methamphetamine is the major problem in Alberta when it comes to synthetic 
drugs and they've certainly seen an increase in the use of methamphetamine 
and some of the fallout," said Sgt. Doug Culver, national coordinator of 
the RCMP's synthetic drug operations unit.

"It's becoming a big money-maker for organized crime in the U.S. and it is 
here because it's all about money.

"It is very easy and cheap to make and the profit margin is higher than 
most other drugs on the market."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom