Methamphetamine in your industry

Currently, methamphetamine is one of the most prevalent substances in the Canadian illicit drug market. Methamphetamine is highly addictive and unfortunately, readily available.

Methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs have permeated into our communities, which has a serious impact on community safety, contributing to crimes of violence and property crimes. The numbers of methamphetamine seizures in Canada has continued to increase since 2010.

The following resources can help employees identify potential suspicious transactions that could indicate the customer has made a purchase for the purpose of methamphetamine or synthetic drug production.

What is chemical diversion?

Chemical diversion is the transfer of precursors and essential chemicals from licit to illicit channels.

This happens more than you think.

Examples of popular precursor chemicals include:

Safrole

Used in fragrances and flavouring in the licit market, and used to produce MDMA and MDA in the illicit market.

Ephedrine

Used within the supplement/health industry, and used to produce methamphetamine.

Recognizing suspicious transactions

The customer might:

• pay cash for large purchases.
• use a private house or PO box.
• order chemicals that they likely don’t need.
• order irregular quantities.
• refuse or be reluctant to supply a written order.

Use your discretion!

Know your precursor chemicals

Employees within industries that sell precursors should be aware of their uses and be aware of suspicious transactions.

Class A precursor chemicals

• Acetic anhydride → Lysergic acid
• N-Acetylanthranilic acid → 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone
• Anthranilic acid → Norephedrine
• Ephedrine → Norephedrine hydrochloride
• Ephedrine hydrochloride → Phenylacetic acid
• Ephedrine sulfate → 1-Phenyl-2-propanone
• Ephedra → Piperidine
• Ergometrine → Piperonal
• Ergotamine → Potassium permanganate
• Gamma-butyrolactone → Pseudoephedrine
• Hydriodic acid → Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
• Hypophosphorus acid → Pseudoephedrine sulfate
• Sodium Hypophosphite → Red phosphorus
• Isosafrole → Safrole
•  → White phosphorus

Class B precursor chemicals

• Acetone → Methyl ethyl ketone
• Ethyl ether → Sulfuric acid
• Hydrochloric acid → Toluene

Equipment used in synthetic drug production

Those involved in synthetic drug production may make purchases that seem suspicious. This could include bulk purchases of:

• aluminum foil
• cheesecloth
• compressed cylinders
• glassware and laboratory glassware
• pails and buckets
• plastic storage containers

Does something seem off? You could be right.