EATING GLASS

WITH imported Ecstasy pills costing up to RM160 (S$72), local versions,
selling for as much as RM15 each, are being manufactured in illegal
laboratories all over the country.

These local versions are mixed with warfarin, a rat poison, and glass
crystals. The rat poison is mixed in for a better ""kick'' and the glass
crystals caused lacerations in the stomach, the subsequent bleeding of
which allows for the faster absorption of the drug into the bloodstream.

But because the rat poison is also an anti-coagulant, the bleeding in the
stomach cannot be stopped because the blood cannot clot.

"EASY STREET'

FOR Malaysian drug traffickers, "E' does not just stand for Ecstasy but for
easy street as well.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said drug dealers are now
switching from the traditional trafficking of heroin to the more lucrative
trade of Ecstasy.

With the illegal trade in the designer drug estimated to be worth at least
RM20 million a month, he said not only was Ecstasy more lucrative but
easier to smuggle as well.

He said the pills were being smuggled in all sorts of different containers
which were difficult to detect.

For example, he said the Malaysian Customs authorities were taken by
surprise that the pills were even hidden in shampoo bottles.

He said another trend detected by the authorities was that young people who
have never had any experience with drugs choose to take Ecstasy because of
the perception that it is not addictive.

""I agree that it is not addictive, but when they step into a disco and
hear the techno music they will want to take the drug,'' he said.

Datuk Chor also denied allegations that the police themselves were involved
in the distribution of the drug.