HASH IMPORTS PUMP UP TERRORISTS

VANCOUVER -- A portion of the $20 million US worth of hashish imported into
Canada annually financed terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan,
according to RCMP.

More than 100 tonnes of hashish is brought into Canada every year,
according to a confidential RCMP report obtained under access to
information legislation.

Most of it comes from southwest Asia, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"This means that approximately $20 million US finds its way back to the
producers in the source countries," says the November 2001 report entitled
Narco-terrorism and Canada.

"It is likely that terrorist elements in Afghanistan tax producers, thereby
receiving a portion of the potential proceeds," the report says.

U.S. intelligence officials say drug profits have been used to finance
terrorist activities. Ships in the Arabian Sea have been under intense
scrutiny since the war began in Afghanistan in the fall, curbing the flow
of drugs from the Middle East.

There are now three Canadian ships on patrol in the area, according to the
Department of National Defence.

The Canadian Armed Forces have apprehended vessels smuggling drugs,
embargoed oil and other illicit materials.

In February, the HMCS Toronto, one of five Canadian warships patrolling the
Arabian Sea at the time, found 90 wrapped packages of drugs. Each was
stamped with the words "Freedom for Afghanistan," according to newspaper
reports.

One to two tonnes of heroin is brought into Canada annually, an amount
worth $10 million to $20 million US, says the RCMP criminal intelligence brief.

Most comes from southeast Asia, particularly Burma.

"No large-scale importation of southwest Asian heroin originating in
Afghanistan has been documented recently in Canada," says the report.

According to the United Nations Drug Control Program, Afghanistan produced
4,600 tonnes of opium in 1999 - 80% of the world supply. Opium is used to
make heroin.

Despite a poppy ban by the former Taliban government, the country produced
3,300 tonnes in 2000 - 70% of world production.

Production fell to an estimated 185 tonnes in 2001 but the international
body believes that as much as 60% of Afghan production has been stockpiled
since And there are reports that since the fall of the hard-line Taliban
government, Afghan farmers have ripped up wheat crops to plant poppies -
the precursor to heroin and opium.

In 2000, Canadian authorities seized approximately 23,000 kg of hashish and
foreign authorities seized nearly 20,000 kg more en route to Canada.