THE UGLIEST DRUG

It's a nasty street drug with a lot of nicknames.

Crystal meth. Speed. Crank. Glass. Gib.

But whatever you call it, it's clear there's been a steady increase in
Chilliwack of the use and abuse of methamphetamine, says RCMP Cpl. Peter
Talvio, head of the four-member Chilliwack RCMP drug section.

The drug-fuelled trend has led to a spike in mail theft and identity fraud
cases locally, and most of the trafficking also has links to organized crime.

"Many people think drug abuse is a big city problem but small rural
communities like Chilliwack, are not untouched by it. It's everywhere,"
says Cpl. Talvio.

He says in previous years like 1999, 2000 and 2001, there were only a small
number of meth-related arrests each year in Chilliwack.

But so far this year alone, his team has made more than 30 arrests, seizing
drugs, weapons, and even caches of stolen mail. That's not counting the
number racked up by the street crew or uniformed officers.

"We're definitely seeing more cases this year," Cpl. Talvio says. "There's
been a noticeable increase and it's becoming more prevalent right across
the Lower Mainland."

Just last month there was one trafficking case that led to 13 arrests. More
recently, officers seized 60 g of methamphetamine from a Chilliwack
residence on July 17 and arrested seven people. On site, they also found a
huge machete, a pipe bomb, several pipes and a pellet gun.

"Many users end up dealing to supply their habit," Cpl. Talvio says.
"Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive drug and addicts need to
constantly buy. These people can't hold down normal employment, and most,
but not all, addicts resort to some sort of criminal activity to get money
for drugs."

He states there's a "definite link" between the recent mail theft phenomena
and crystal meth addiction and trafficking.

Addicts have be arrested in possession of credit cards, data from discarded
or stolen credit card receipts, or even stolen mail.

"They're using the information to obtain goods and services in someone
else's name, like a cell phone account for example," he says. "Sometimes
victims only find out when the bill arrives a couple of months later."

Methamphetamine users have also been known to resort to stealing cars,
breaking into them, residential burglaries, shoplifting, prostitution and
holdups. As a neurotoxin, the drug can cause brain damage and a
schizophrenia-like psychosis, along with premature aging, rotting teeth,
hair loss and heart damage.

Weapons like knives, handguns, stunguns and even pipe bombs are often found
when traffickers are arrested.

"They'll often use weapons to collect money, too," he says.

Part of the reason for the increase is there's big money to be made and
it's an inexpensive drug to produce, he says.

"It's been a big problem down south in Washington State for a long time,"
he explains. "It was only a matter of time before the problem moved up here."

Labs can be set up anywhere, in remote rural areas or within downtown
boundaries. He's seen them in apartments, cars, houses, lockers and hotel
rooms.

The biggest bust in recent memory was at a Chilliwack house in February
2002 where police uncovered two methamphetamine labs under one roof. Local
officials withheld details of what they seized at the time, referring
inquiries to the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. Two adults were arrested
locally, in the sweep that took in several Lower Mainland locations by
members of the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. (OCABC), assisted by local RCMP.

"The only thing I can tell you at this point is that the raids were
simultaneous, all linked to one another and connected to outlaw motorcycle
gangs," said OCABC spokesperson Anne Drennen at the time.

Whereas heroine and cocaine are made from plant materials like poppies and
coca leaves, he says, methamphetamine is made from harsh chemicals like
battery acid, drain cleaner, lantern fuel and antifreeze, inviting all
kinds of dangerous situations.

"With the volatility of the chemicals used in the production of
methamphetamines, there's a high risk of explosion and fire," he says.
"There have been cases where labs have blown up. Plus the by-products of
making it, are nothing short of toxic waste and are often just poured on
the ground or down the drain."

The crystal form of the drug looks a little like rock salt and can range in
colour from clear or white, to pink or greenish, depending on what it's
been made with. Addicts smoke, snort, shoot or pop the pill form of it. The
pinkish tinge usually signals that cold tablets have been used in the
production of the drug.

Many people think raves only attract ecstasy-users but Cpl. Talvio says
there are a lot of different drugs being sold at the popular youth-geared
dance parties. "At last one rave we found people in possession of ecstasy,
coke, marijuana, mushrooms, as well as methamphetamines. In fact, there was
some guy selling methamphetamines right in front of me," he says. "We
arrested him."

Even a feline anaesthetic called ketamine was being sold at one of these
events, he says. The real danger with all illegal drugs, including crystal
meth, is that they're not manufactured under controlled conditions.

"You never really know what you're getting," Cpl. Talvio underlines.
"People have to remember that drugs are made by people motivated by greed."