Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2013 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2013 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Douglas Quan STORING EVIDENCE IN DRUG SEIZURES PRICEY, RISKY The RCMP is becoming increasingly concerned about potential liability from longterm storage of hazardous materials seized from drug labs. Mounties are especially concerned about the potential for leaks, explosions or unforeseen chemical reactions from the extended storage of certain precursor chemicals - the ingredients used to make synthetic drugs. Their concerns are contained in a report commissioned by Health Canada to examine the costs of managing controlled substances, production equipment and other related items seized by police. Growing domestic production of drugs has led to increased seizures, which have "created pressures on the management and disposal" of controlled substances and related items, said the December 2011 report, obtained by Postmedia News under access-to-information laws. Sara Lauer, a spokeswoman for Health Canada, said the federal government is using the report to look at "potential amendments" to federal rules regulating the storage and disposal of controlled substances and related property. She didn't elaborate. Currently, when police come across a drug operation, the responsibility for managing the seized items falls under different agencies. Controlled substances, for instance, are the responsibility of Health Canada. Other items related to the drug operation, known as "offence-related property," are the responsibility of either the police agency or a branch of Public Works and Government Services Canada, which operates seven warehouses across the country. Property can include everything from precursor chemicals to production equipment to "proceeds of crime," such as cars and boats. Nationwide, the cost of managing all these items is "at least" $25 million a year, the report estimated. While most controlled substances are typically destroyed within a year of being seized, offence-related property can be held for several years, the report said. Drawn-out court proceedings are typically the cause. But the RCMP suggests that some offence-related property is of no value to the owner after it's been seized by police, so there's no point waiting until a court case is over to decide what to do with it. Precursor chemicals, for instance, are typically stored in large drums with other chemicals, leaving them "physically undistinguishable and impure," according to the report. Given the potential risks to the environment from "unintended releases" and the "risk to the public around the storage site in the event of a release, explosion or reaction of stored chemicals," the report suggests one option might be for the federal government to just allow for the "immediate destruction" of these chemicals upon seizure. Cpl. Luc Chicoine, an RCMP synthetic drug expert in Ottawa, said there are certain seized items, such as volatile chemicals or corrosive acids, that should be destroyed immediately. Chicoine said he is aware of some "minor" leaks that have occurred in the past but nothing that posed a health threat. Still, he said, "those items are dangerous," he said. "They shouldn't be stored." The RCMP also suggests there may be little value in storing hydroponic and other equipment seized from marijuana grow-operations, such as lamps, wiring, fans and tubing, when these items will most likely end up being destroyed or recycled. Most marijuana-related equipment in storage is typically valued at $1 a piece, but each item can cost $155 to manage, according to the report. The report suggests it might just make more sense to destroy or recycle low-value hydroponics and other equipment "immediately upon or shortly after seizure." The same can probably be said of beat-up vehicles, Chicoine said. "If we seize a $25 vehicle - an old beater - why do we store that vehicle at $200 a month? Why are we keeping that? Let's get rid of it right away," he said, suggesting that if the owner is found to be not guilty, he can be reimbursed for the cost of the car. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom