Pubdate: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html Website: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Lee Berthiaume Page: A1 U.S. ALARMED BY FLOW OF HEROIN THROUGH CANADA The Obama administration has raised the alarm about an increase in the amount of heroin being smuggled from Afghanistan through Canada and into the U.S. The warning is contained in a recent White House report on the global drug trade, and comes despite a concerted push - at a cost of millions of dollars - to curb Afghan heroin production during the years Canadian military forces were in Kandahar. Each year, U.S. President Barack Obama issues a "presidential determination" that guides U.S. drug policy for the coming year. The report includes a list of countries deemed to be major producers or traffickers of illicit drugs, as well as other points of concern. This year's declaration notes the amount of opium - which heroin is made from - being produced in Afghanistan has reached record levels. It says the U.S. is lobbying Canada as well as European countries for more assistance in tackling the problem. "There is also an increase in trans-shipments of Afghanistan heroin going to Canada," the document adds, "a development of concern that is being addressed by Canada with support from the United States." Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Rusty Payne could not say how much Afghan heroin is being smuggled into the U.S. through Canada, though the amount pales in comparison to the heroin flowing into the U.S. from Central America and Mexico. "Now, that's different than making sure it doesn't become an issue," Payne added. "We've got to make sure that we don't ever return to where we were in the '70s, where 70 per cent of the heroin in the U.S. came from Afghanistan." Canada spent tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars trying to convince Afghans to switch from growing opium poppies to other crops while the Canadian military was operating in Kandahar from 2005 to 2011. The U.S. has also spent $7.6 billion as part of anti-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan since 2001. The Canadian money was used to fund public relations campaigns, support the Afghan government's poppy eradication efforts, and to refurbish a major irrigation dam so farmers would have the water needed to grow something other than opium. The dam alone cost $50 million. Those efforts appear to have paid off, at least temporarily. Opium poppy production dropped from a record high in 2007 of 193,000 hectares to 123,000 hectares in 2009 and 2010. But the United Nations reported earlier this year that the amount of land dedicated to growing opium poppies in Afghanistan had increased to a record 209,000 hectares in 2013 after three consecutive years of growth. That number had risen to 224,000 hectares in 2014. The increase coincides with a scaling back on the number of international troops in the country, including Canada's own military drawdown and withdrawal earlier this year. RCMP spokesman Sgt. Greg Cox confirmed the federal police force saw an increase inheroin seizures in 2013 compared to previous years, though neither he nor Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney's office was able to provide exact statistics. More than 90 per cent of the heroin seized in Canada whose origin was known, came from Afghanistan - with most of it shipped through Pakistan, India or Iran, Cox added. Asked to comment, Blaney spokesman Jason Tamming said the Conservative government has increased the number of front line border officers by 26 per cent since 2006. "Our government is committed to a safe and effective border, which includes keeping illegal drugs out of Canada," Tamming said, adding the Canada Border Services Agency made more than 9,000 drug seizures last year. RCMP and CBSA officials did not respond to questions about what they are doing to specifically address the flow of heroin from Afghanistan. But they said they are working closely with counterparts in the U.S. and other countries to tackle transnational criminal organizations responsible for the majority of drug smuggling globally. This includes sharing intelligence and posting officers in strategic locations around the world. The Canadian military is also participating in several operations aimed at combating drug trafficking. One naval frigate, HMCS Toronto, seized 8.5 metric tonnes of drugs, including heroin, while patrolling in the Arabian Sea last year. Carleton University professor Dawn Moore said the resurgence of opium production in Afghanistan is further proof that the war on drugs, in which the Conservative government has enlisted Canada, is a failure. "Basically nothing can be done," she said. "We have tried for over 100 years to stop the illicit drug trade, both domestically and internationally, and no initiative that any government has taken on has been successful in any way, shape or form." [sidebar] A Hard Habit to Kick 224,000: Hectares of land being used to grow opium poppies in Afghanistan this year 123,000: Hectares of land being used to grow opium poppies in Afghanistan in 2009 3: Years of consecutive growth in the amount of land being used to grow opium poppies in Afghanistan $50 million: Amount spent by Canada to refurbish Afghanistan's Dahla Dam 90: Percentage of heroin seized in Canada whose origin was known that came from Afghanistan - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom