CANADA A MAJOR PLAYER IN ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE: 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
amphetaminetype 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.

"For example, 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%."

As for other drugs: Canada ranked 11th for seizures of Cannabis, with
49,919 kilos seized in 2007, accounting for 0.9% of world seizures;
and 22nd for cocaine, with 2,666 kilos seized (0.4% globally).