PEARSON TRIES URINE TESTS

Canada Customs officers at Pearson airport have started taking urine samples
of travellers they suspect are smuggling drugs into the country.

The pilot project began two weeks ago, customs spokesman Michel Cleroux
confirmed yesterday.

He said the tests are meant to catch travellers who have ingested large
amounts of dope to get it past customs.

Customs and the RCMP arrest several hundred drug-swallowers and seize
millions of dollars in cocaine, heroin, hash and hash oil every year at
airports nationwide.

DETENTION OPTION

Cleroux said only travellers suspected of swallowing drugs will be targeted.
They'll be given the option of a urine test or detention until they have a
bowel movement.

Cleroux said the Supreme Court of Canada has approved of the tests if
customs officers have reasonable grounds to suspect a traveller is smuggling
drugs.

"If we detect drugs in a person, we can get them medical help right away,"
he said.

"Some swallowers die and we could end up probably saving their life."

Cleroux said officers are only interested in drug swallowers -- and not
users, who will be released. "We're not interested in the users," he said.

Cleroux said if the urine tests prove successful, the program will be used
at airports across the country.