CANADA NOW A MAJOR DRUG PLAYER: REPORT

Canadian herb isn't the only product our drug lords are known for
around the world.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's 2009 World
Drug Report, which was released yesterday morning in Washington,
Canada has become a major player on the world market for
amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), such as methamphetamine and Ecstasy.

Of the 1.82 metric tons of methamphetamine seized in Canada between
1998 and 2007, 1.54 tons of that was seized in 2007 alone, the report
noted. Manufacture of Ecstasy in 2007 was reported in just eight
countries. Among them: Canada. Canada was among 10 countries in five
"distinct subregional markets" listed in the report that accounted for
more than 80% of all ATS seized.

"Canada-based organized crime groups' participation in the
methamphetamine trade has grown significantly since 2003," the report
says.

"By 2006, law enforcement intelligence noted that Asian organized
crime and traditional outlaw motorcycle gangs operating in Canada had
increased the amount of methamphetamine they manufactured and
exported, primarily into the USA, but also to Oceania and East and
South-East Asia. "Australia identified that methamphetamine from
Canada accounted for 83% of total seized imports by weight, for Japan
the figure was 62%. Although only 5% of domestically manufactured
methamphetamine was exported in 2006, by 2007 that figure was 20%."