COLOMBIA RESTRICTS CEMENT TO CUT COCAINE OUTPUT

BOGOTA (Reuters) - In an effort to cut spiraling cocaine production,
Colombia has imposed tight controls on the sale of cement because it
is being used to produce a cocaine base.

Farmers traditionally mix coca leaves, the raw material for cocaine,
with cement, gasoline and fertilizer to extract narcotic alkaloids and
make what is known as cocaine base, a bitter smelling powder with the
consistency of bread-crumbs,

The base, is then sold to drug traffickers who process it with
chemicals including sulfuric acid and acetone, commonly used in paint
manufacture, to obtain pure cocaine.

The cement sale restrictions in six provinces, announced Friday by the
Interior Ministry, came a week after White House anti-drug director
Barry McCaffrey described rising drug production in Colombia as an
"emergency situation".

According to U.S. figures, Colombian cocaine output has doubled over
the last four years to about 165 metric tons per year.

Under new restrictions agreed at a meeting of the National Anti-drug
Council on Thursday, individuals will only be allowed to buy half a
bag of cement -- about 50 pounds -- at a time.

Larger quantities, up to a maximum of 600 kg, will only be sold if the
buyer shows the relevant construction license, proof of identification
and provides the address of the proposed building.

The police and army have also been given special powers to search and
seize unauthorized stocks of cement.

The measure will apply in eastern Guaviare, Meta, Vaupes, Vichada and
southern Putumayo and Caqueta provinces -- the main cocaine-producing
regions of Colombia.

About two years ago, the government imposed tough controls on gasoline
sales in coca-producing regions. That led to smuggling and a black
market for fuel but failed to cut cocaine production.