CANADA AIDING DRUG BARONS, UN EXPERT SAYS

Chemicals Not Monitored

UNITED NATIONS Lax Canadian monitoring of imported chemicals is helping
drug barons in Mexico and the United States produce "ice," a stimulant
known as the poor man's cocaine, a United Nations drug expert charged
yesterday.

In violation of an international agreement signed by Ottawa in 1988, the
federal government has no idea what happens to chemicals used as drug
ingredients after they enter the country, said Herbert Shaepe, secretary of
the UN's International Narcotics Control Board, based in Geneva.

Mr. Shaepe said at least some of the chemicals are smuggled out of the
country and end up in the hands of illicit-drug manufacturers.

Ottawa admits it has been slow in improving its monitoring procedures for
such chemicals, but says it is working on legislation to comply with the
13-year-old treaty.

Mr. Shaepe spoke ahead of the release today of the board's annual report on
the state of the world's drug monitoring systems.

"There is currently no monitoring system to prevent Canadian territory from
being used to divert chemicals for the illicit manufacture of drugs in
other countries," the report says.

Under the 1988 Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Canada
is obliged to track chemicals known as "precursors" that are used to make
drugs.

The board believes Canadian imports of ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine are
being smuggled to clandestine drug laboratories in Mexico and the United
States to produce ice, the street name for methamphetamine, Mr. Shaepe said.

"In the last two or three years, since Mexico and the U.S. have put
controls on these substances, imports of the chemicals to Canada have gone
up and up," he explained.

"Canada is buying tremendous quantities of these chemicals from Europe,
China and India. We cannot accept that such amounts are for medical use
alone. Eighteen tonnes arrived in January alone."

Ephedrine is used in the manufacture of decongestants, among other medicines.

"The Canadian authorities just issue 'no objection' certificates," Mr.
Shaepe continued. "They don't care about the final destination."

Canadian officials deny the charge. "There is no evidence that Canada is a
source of the chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs," said Mike
O'Shaughnessy, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs. "The RCMP
maintains a successful voluntary program under which they co-operate with
the chemical industry."

Nevertheless, he added that Canada is "preparing regulations to comply with
the parts of the 1988 UN convention that apply to the control of precursor
chemicals."

Last year's report lambasted Canada for failing to comply with a 1971
treaty requiring controls to ensure anti-depressants and mind-altering
drugs, such as diet and sleeping pills, do not end up on the black market.

Last September, Ottawa placed 44 such drugs under the umbrella of the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, in accordance with its international
obligations.

"That step closed one of the last significant gaps in the international
control system for psychotropic substances," the report says.