WASHINGTON WANTS CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS

New Report By U.S. Urges Canada To Take Action On Narco-Trafficking

OTTAWA - Methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana production is on the
rise in Canada, a new report by the U.S. State Department says, and
transnational crime groups are steadily importing more cocaine and heroin.

While the American government's annual international narcotics review
pegs the country as "primarily a drug consuming" one, Canada remains
a significant producer of high quality marijuana and a transit point
for over-the-counter pharmaceuticals used in synthetic drugs.

"Methamphetamine trafficking and availability rose during 2005," the
document says, noting 95 per cent of the domestic supply comes from
large, multi-kilogram operations. "Significant seizures of MDMA
(ecstasy) from clandestine laboratories indicate they are larger and
more sophisticated organized crime operations."

Marijuana, smuggled into the U.S. primarily via British Columbia,
Ontario and Quebec, remains a serious concern for law enforcement as well.

"Though outdoor cultivation continues, the use of large and more
sophisticated indoor grow operations is increasing because it allows
year-round production," the document says.

"The RCMP reports the involvement of ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese
organized crime organizations in technologically advanced organic
grow methods that produce marijuana with elevated THC levels."

The Mounties conducted 430 marijuana investigations and 570 raids
while seizing nearly 250,000 plants and arresting 283 people in 2005.

The national police force also conducted 87 clandestine drug lab
investigations leading to 36 raids, one-third of which involved
ecstasy production. Approximately 64,000 doses of the drug were seized.

RCMP officials were not available for comment Tuesday.

International crime groups lead many cocaine smuggling operations in
Canada. According to the State Department, Colombian brokers are
connecting producers with outlaw biker gangs and Italian and
Caribbean organized crime.

Shipments are usually routed through countries such as Haiti,
Trinidad and Jamaica before coming here. Between January and
September of 2005, the Canada Border Services Agency seized 1.66
metric tons of cocaine.

While the report paints a positive picture of law enforcement
efforts, it's clear the U.S. government wants legal changes to crack
down on drug producers in Canada. It notes marijuana cultivation is a
thriving, low-risk pursuit, due in part to "low sentences meted out
by Canadian courts."

The U.S. may get its wish soon, as Justice Minister Vic Toews has
suggested mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug crimes are on the way.

The report also sums up various government-sponsored "harm-reduction"
programs, such as providing safe-injection sites and crack pipes to
chronic users.

It notes the U.S. supports "science-based treatment programs to
reduce drug use, as opposed to measures which facilitate drug abuse
in hopes of reducing some of its harmful consequences."

It makes a general request that Canada address the rise of ecstasy
production and "improve its regulatory and enforcement capacity"
regarding precursor chemicals as well.

The Canadian government has taken several steps in that direction. It
boosted prison sentences for meth and ecstasy producers and tightened
controls on six chemicals used as base ingredients. The regulations
came into effect in January.