RESTRICTIONS URGED ON MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE DRUGS

Major Bust Proves The Need For Tighter Restrictions, RCMP Says

The RCMP says the recent bust of a major Richmond drug lab is
confirmation that Ottawa needs to clamp down on legal loopholes
facilitating the manufacture of synthetic drugs.

At a news conference Tuesday, RCMP displayed drugs and weapons seized
after an 18-month investigation. The haul included 14,000 ecstasy
pills, three kilograms of MDMA pow-d er, six kg of ketamine, $250,000
in cash and several long-barrelled shotguns and rifles.

There was also an industrial-grade mixer, a pill press and barrels
used to contain various "precursor chemicals" -- many of which are
legal to import, sell and possess under current legislation.

"Importing a multi-stage pill press that produces thousands of pills
per hour would have no legal use unless used in major pharmaceutical
manufacturing," said Chief Supt. Bob Harriman.

B.C. Solicitor-General Kash Heed said he has asked the federal
government to restrict the availability of such equipment, as well as
precursor materials including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and
methylamine hydrochloride.

"I'm advocating for changes in the law," said Heed. "We need to come
down hard and fast on the flow of illicit drug precursors in Canada.
We need regulations that enable us to respond quickly to rapid
changes in drug crime trend."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Whalley said in a phone interview that
Washington state implemented regulations in 2005 that require vendors
of drugs such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to report customer
information and quantities to the state.

Customers buying more than 10 mg must register and present identification.

Those caught with large amounts could spend two to 20 years in prison.

"It substantially decreased the number of methamphetamine labs in the
state," said Whalley. "If drug manufacturers are unable to buy large
quantities of pseudoephedrine, they can't make methamphetamine."

Whalley said the B.C.-Washington state border sees the most ecstasy
and MDMA seizures in the country, and figures increased after the new
regulations.

Earlier this year, the United Nations released a world drug report
that named Canada as a major source country for synthetic drugs. Most
precursor chemicals are imported from India and China and finished
products are exported back to Asia and the U.S.

Nine people from Richmond, Vancouver and Abbotsford, including two
women and two with ties to Asian organized crime, face numerous drug
charges in connection with the Richmond drug-lab bust.