CHEMICAL, GLASS LAWS TO HIT DRUGS

TOUGH new laws aimed at stamping out the manufacture of illicit drugs in WA
are being drafted by the State Government.

The laws will make it compulsory for members of the chemical and glassware
industries to notify police each time products which can be used to make
illicit drugs are sold.

Buyers will also be required to produce photographic identification and
fill in a declaration outlining the intended use for products when making a
purchase.

They would then have to wait a minimum of 24 hours before taking possession
of the goods.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts said WA was one of the few States in
Australia without mandatory reporting conditions on its chemical and
glassware industries.

She said the lack of controls had allowed the drug trade to flourish in WA.

"There is a real need for (reporting conditions) to crackdown on organised
crime figures and outlaw motorcycle gangs which are involved in the
manufacture of amphetamines and other drugs such as ecstasy and home-bake
heroin," Mrs Roberts said.

Last year alone, WA police detected 26 clandestine amphetamine laboratories
capable of producing millions of dollars worth of the drug.

Despite the success of police, the supply of amphetamines on Perth streets
has remained relatively stable.

Organised crime investigation unit Supt Fred Gere predicted the new laws
would significantly cut the level of drug production in WA.

He said similar laws in South Australia and Queensland had been effective
and organised crime syndicates now considered WA a good place to set up
business because of the lack of reporting conditions.

"This is certainly a step in the right direction towards reducing the
amount of chemicals which are diverted into illicit drug making and
eventually end up on our streets," Supt Gere said.

Hundreds of common industrial chemicals and products such as glass beakers
and vials will be covered.

Mrs Roberts said the inconvenience and cost of compliance to industry would
be minimal.

The new laws will replace an existing voluntary code of conduct adopted by
the chemical and glassware industries in 1996.

Pharmacies require customers to show identification when buying
over-the-counter medicines such as those containing codeine or pseudo
ephedrine which can be used to make other drugs.