FORCES' DRUG-USE RISK 'VERY HIGH'

OTTAWA -- Canadian soldiers patrolling in Afghanistan are at a "very
high" risk of using drugs, says a military criminal intelligence
report. A July 2003 military police criminal intelligence program
interim report obtained by Sun Media under the Access to Information
Act warns that deploying soldiers to a leading drug producing country
such as Afghanistan on Operation Athena could produce
"nightmares."

According to the report the Canadian Forces national investigation
service "rate the risk of members' involvement in illicit drug
activities while deployed to OP Athena as high to very high."

Afghanistan is the world's largest exporter of hashish and recently
became the world's top supplier of opium.

The report points out that about 2,200 tons of opium are cultivated
annually in Afghanistan and represent 73% of the world's total production.

"Further, the deployment to, and CF operations in, a leading drug
source country, provide a number of hypothetical 'nightmares' for
commanders on the ground and (military police) tasked to investigate
any incidents that arise from this," the report states.

The intelligence report raises a red flag on a legal Afghan chewing
tobacco called nasuar, which is made from hash.

"Soldiers interviewed with regards to the use of nasuar state the
taste of the substance is an 'acquired one,' " the report says.

Canadian soldiers working at observation posts are approached by young
children and offered roughly a gram of nasuar for about $1 US,
military intelligence says.

"Larger amounts are offered and sold by the young children's older
siblings," the report says.

Capt. Mark Giles, spokesman for the military's national investigation
service, says he can't comment on whether there are ongoing
investigations of soldiers using drugs in Afghanistan.

The intelligence report also says that drug investigations in Canada
are sapping resources and many bases don't have the staff to battle
drugs.

"Unfortunately most base/wing/formation military police units are
unable to dedicate any proactive response to the increase in reported
drug activity due to reduced manpower and limited drug expertise," a
military report entitled Operation Nova 2003 says.

"The situation with the CFNIS (Canadian Forces National Investigation
Service) detachments is not much more promising."

Giles said the national investigation service has had a dedicated drug
enforcement team for decades.

"We want to make sure we don't have drugs available in the Forces,"
Giles said. The report recommends creating full-time drug units across
the country.