HOW COPS ARE BATTLING TO CURB DEMAND FOR SYNTHETIC DRUGS

POLICE and the chemical industry are working together to curb the use
of chemicals in the illicit manufacture of drugs.

Addressing the International Chemical Monitoring Conference in Durban,
police commissioner Seswantsho Lebeya said the monitoring of the
movement of chemicals in the country was critical amid an increasing
demand for synthetic drugs.

In addition to the manufacture of the methamphetamines and other
drugs, the laboratories were themselves "mini toxic waste sites" as
criminals simply dumped the waste products without consideration for
the environment, said Lebeya.

National narcotics head Senior Superintendent Deven Naicker told the
conference the United Nations estimated the global retail market for
illicit drugs at R3.5 trillion (about 320 billion).

He said South Africa followed a similar global trend and it was
estimated that at least five percent of the population had used
illicit drugs in the past 12 months.

Of the three drug categories, synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine
were showing the greatest increase among users.

In Cape Town, 60 percent of drug users reported "tik" (also
methamphetamine) as their drug of choice and its distribution was
being controlled by gangs.

Naicker warned officials attending the conference that use of the drug
was spreading rapidly to other parts of the country.

"It's spreading. I advise you as law enforcement officials: tackle
that problem whilst it is still existing in manageable proportions,
otherwise it's going to sweep the carpet from under your feet like it
did in the Western Cape."

Globally, methamphetamine is the drug of choice worldwide among
34million people, which exceeds the estimated 11m heroin users and 14m
cocaine users.

Naicker said the government's policy of limiting the legal supply of
ephedrine, the base drug needed for the manufacture of
methamphetamine, had resulted in chemical companies becoming targets
of criminals.

He cited an incident where ephedrine was stolen from OR Tambo Airport,
and another case in Johannesburg where the staff of a chemical company
had been held up by criminals who stole ephedrine.

Naicker said intelligence from the chemical industry had been a major
contributor to police seizing methamphetamine laboratories. -- Sapa