CANADA 'PRIMARY SOURCE' OF SYNTHETIC PARTY DRUGS

Canadian organized crime has gradually cemented a grip on the trade of
synthetic party drugs since 2003, said the 2009 United Nations World
Drug Report.

"Canada has emerged as the primary source of ecstasy-group substances
for North American markets and for other regions," the report says.
"Canada has become a major trafficking hub for meth and ecstasy."

Simon Fraser University criminologist Rob Gordon said the report "is
demonstrating once again [that] the grip of crime here is
increasing."

"The report says Canada, and especially B.C., is at the centre of
synthetic-drug production today."

According to Gordon, the end result of a rise in B.C. drug-gang
control of international meth-trade is more blood on the province's
streets as turf disputes break out.

Gordon, who along with former West Vancouver police chief Kash Heed,
strongly advocated for police regionalization in B.C. to combat
rampant gangs and drugs, says Heed has gone strangely silent on the
topic since running for politics and being appointed new
solicitor-general.

"I think it's very disappointing," Gordon said. "I think Kash Heed
needs to talk about this affirmation that B.C. has a disproportionate
number of organized-crime groups involved in the lucrative trade of
synthetic drugs."

Heed was asked for comment but was not available before The Province's
deadline.

Vancouver police spokesman Const. Lindsey Houghton said it's hard to
figure who is behind known meth-factories in the province.

"Whether it's Asian groups or the Hells Angels or the Red Scorpions --
every part of the drug trade is connected like a spider web."