|
Back to
Previous Page
South African Police Service
Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens
TELEFAX COVERING SHEET
NARCOTICS DESK, ORGANISED CRIME
HEAD OFFICE, PRIVATE BAG X302
PRETORIA 0001
FAX NUMBER: +27 12 393-1948/53
TO:
ATTENTION:
FAX NO:
YOUR REFERENCE:
The Chemical Monitoring Programme
DATE:
NUMBER OF SHEETS, INCLUDING THIS PAGE:
Eight FROM: Narcotics Desk,
Head Office DEALT WITH BY: D/Insp
Athol Clarke TEL NUMBER: + 27
12 393-1942 MY REFERENCE:
40/4/7 SUBJECT: THE CHEMICAL
MONITORING PROGRAMME (CMP) OF THE NARCOTICS DESK, ORGANISED CRIME, HEAD
OFFICE
MESSAGE:
Dear Sir/Madam.
The Chemical Monitoring Programme (CMP) of the
Narcotics Desk, Organised Crime, Head Office was established in 1994. The
objectives of the programme are to restrict the availability of illicitly
manufactured drugs by the identification and prosecution of illicit drug
laboratories, and to reduce traffic in the
diversion of chemicals for illicit use by means of monitoring the import,
manufacture and distribution of such chemicals.
This programme functioned on a system of
voluntary compliance by the local chemical industry until 2002, when
legislation was introduced with a view to controlling the import and export
of twenty-three
chemicals scheduled in the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic
in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1998 (1988 Convention). See
annexure A. This legislation made it a criminal offence to import or export
any of the above chemicals without first being in possession of a permit
issued by the Department of Trade and Industry and without such permit being
approved by the Chemical Monitoring Programme (CMP):
On a national level, in terms of section 3 of
the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992, (Act 140 of 1992),
it is an offence for any person or company to supply any of the above
chemicals if they know or suspect that the chemicals will be used in the
manufacture of illicit drugs. The
voluntary monitory system is still being used by investigators to obtain
current information on sales of the above twenty-three (23) chemicals, as
well as the twenty-seven chemicals listed in the limited Special
International Surveillance list. Attached a copy of a form which you are
requested to complete and return to this office, please. Annexure B
Attached a copy of the Declaration of Intent
to Import/Export Chemicals listed in Schedule 1 of the Drugs and Drug
Trafficking Act, 1992 (Act No 140 of 1992) for your attention. You are
requested to please make copies of this form and complete them when your
company intends to import or export any of the chemicals listed. Annexure C.
The information contained in Annexure D is
used by investigators to make controlled deliveries, with a view to
detecting illicit laboratories. In
order to facilitate the monitoring of the listed chemicals and to combat the
illegal trade in drugs in the Southern African region, it would be
appreciated if your firm could also complete the attached form and return it
to this office as soon as possible.
Should you require more information or be able to provide any information in
the above regard, please contact D/Insp Athol Clarke, Chemical Monitoring
Programme: Head Office, Pretoria at telephone number (012) 393 1942 or fax
(012) 393 1948. Cell 083 635 1581.
Yours faithfully
CAPTAIN
act/COMMANDER: NARCOTICS DESK: OC: HEAD OFFICE
J J A REHDER
Annexure A
LIST OF SUBSTANCES FREQUENTLY USED IN THE
ILLICIT MANUFACTURE OF NARCOTICS DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES UNDER
INTERNATIONAL CONTROL
SUBSTANCES SCHEDULED IN TABLES I AND II OF THE
1988 CONVENTION
SUBSTANCES INCLUDED IN TABLE I
N-Acetylantranilic Acid (CAS NO. 89-52-1)
Ephedrine (CAS NO. 299-42-3)
Ergometrine (CAS NO. 60-79-7) Ergotamine (CAS
NO. 113-15-5) Isosafrole
(CAS NO. 120-58-1) Lysergic Acid (CAS NO. 82-58-6)
3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl (CAS NO 4676-39-5)
1-Phenyl-2-propanone (CAS NO. 103-79-7)
Piperonal (CAS NO. 120-57-0)
Pseudoephedrine (CAS NO. 9082-4/4125-58-0)
Safrole (CAS NO. 94-59-7) Norephedrine (CAS
NO. 154-41-6) The salts
of the substances listed in this Table whenever the existence of such salts
is possible.
SUBSTANCES INCLUDED IN TABLE II
Acetic Anhydride (CAS NO. 108-24-7) Acetone (CAS
NO. 67-64-1) Anthranilic
Acid (CAS NO. 118-92-3) Ethyl Ether (CAS NO. 60-29-7)
Hydrochloric Acid (CAS NO.
7647-01-0) Methyl Ethyl Ketone (CAS NO. 78-93-3)
Phenylacetic Acid (CAS NO. 103-82-2)
Piperidine (CAS NO. 110-89-4)
Potassium Permanganate (CAS NO. 7722-64-7)
Sulphuric Acid (CAS NO. 7664-93-9)
Toluene (CAS NO. 108-88-3)
The salts of the substances listed in this
Table whenever the existence of such salts is possible.
CHEMICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME CMP)
Annexure B
Company Name :
............................................................................................
Address :
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
Telephone : Code .....................
No .............................
Fax : Code ....................
No ............................
Contact Person/s : 1.
................................................................................
2.
................................................................................
3.
................................................................................
Position in company : 1.
................................................................................
2
................................................................................
3.
................................................................................
Listed chemicals : Imported or Exported
............................................................ .....................................................
.............
............................................................ ..........................................................
........
............................................................ .....................................................
.............
............................................................ ..........................................................
........
............................................................ .....................................................
.............
............................................................ ..........................................................
........
............................................................ .....................................................
.............
............................................................ ..........................................................
........
............................................................ .....................................................
.............
............................................................ ..........................................................
........
............................................................ .....................................................
.............
CHEMICAL MONITORING PROGRAMME (CMP)
ANNEXURE C
DECLARATION OF INTENT TO IMPORT/EXPORT CHEMICALS SCHEDULED
IN SCHEDULE 1 OF THE DRUGS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING ACT, 1992
(ACT 140/1992)
I,
________________________________________________, identify number
________________________
in my capacity as an office bearer/designated official of the business,
__________________________ ___________________________________, registration
number,
_____________________________, located at
____________________________________________________
hereby declare that we intent to import/export the following chemicals
to/from South Africa:
Name: _____________________________________ HS number: _____________
Quantity:___________
Name: _____________________________________ HS number: _____________
Quantity:___________
Name: _____________________________________ HS number:_____________
Quantity:___________
Name: _____________________________________ HS number: _____________
Quantity:___________
We have been informed that
those chemicals are subjected to import and export control as notified in
Government
Gazette No. 19930 of the 16th April 1999.
In addition, we have also been informed that
those chemicals are listed in Schedule 1 of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking
Act, 1992 (Act 140 of 1992), and that Section 3 of that act creates an
offence relating to the manufacture and supply of scheduled substances.
Section 3 states,
"No person shall manufacture
any scheduled substance or supply it to any other person, knowing or
suspecting that any such scheduled substance is to be used in or for the
unlawful manufacture of any drug."
Finally, we declare that the substance/s named
above procured from ____________________________________
1. Exclusively used and fully consumed for the production of
______________________________________
We are not selling or using the substance/s for any other purpose. Moreover
we expressively confirm that it is not used for the manufacture of narcotic
drugs or psychotropic substances or
2. Traded by ourselves. We are selling to the following customer/s(1,1)
_____________________________.
(Listed attached)
3. In accordance with your efforts to prevent the misuse of chemicals in the
illegal manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, we
undertake to obtain proper certifications from our customers in order to
prevent such misuse, and to report transactions with third parties to the
Chemical Monitoring Programme, South African Narcotics Bureau, Head Office,
Pretoria. Date:
Time:
Authorised signature:
________________________________
Place:
ANNEXURE D
SUBSTANCES INCLUDED ON THE LIMITED
INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL
SURVEILLANCE LIST
Acetonitrile
Allylbenzene Ammonia
(including aqueous solutions)
Ammonium formate
Benzaldehyde
Benzyl chloride Benzyl
cyanide
Ethylamine (Monoethylamine)
Formamide
Formic acid Hydriodic
acid
Lithium aluminium hydride
Methylamine (Monomethylamine)
Methylergometrine
N-Methylformamide
Nitroethane o-Toluidine
Acetic acid (Glacial)
Calcium oxide Potassium
carbonate
Sodium carbonate Sodium
hydroxide
Sodium hypochloride
Benzene
Ethyl acetate
Methyl isobutyl ketone
MULTILATERAL CHEMICAL REPORTING
NOTIFICATION
***NOTE: This shipment WILL/ WILL NOT proceed if a reply is not
received by ../../
.
| 1. ACTION ADDRESSEE:
Fax: |
| 2.a. Additional Addressee:
Fax: |
| 2.b. Reference : |
| |
| 4. Sender:
|
5. Agency: |
6. Country: |
| 7. Telephone:
|
8. Fax: |
9. E-Mail: |
| 10. Date of Request:
|
|
|
11. Does your office
have any objections to this shipment? Yes No Further Enquiry Needed
***If Yes, please attach details and reasons***
| 12. Chemical: |
13. Harmonised
Code: |
14. Quantity: |
| 15. Export
Country: |
16. Departure
Port: |
17. Departure
Date: |
| 18. Import
Country: |
19. Entry Port:
|
20. Est. Arrival
Date: |
| 21. Transshipment
Route/ Free Trade Zones: |
22. Transport
Mode: |
| 23: Import
Authorisation No.: |
24. Status of
Shipment: |
|
| 25.
Importer/Consignee:
Address:
Telephone/fax |
26. Manufacturer or
Exporter
Name:
Address:
Telephone/Fax |
| 27. Broker(s):
Name:
Address:
Telephone/Fax |
| 28. Transit Firm(s):
Name:
Address:
Telephone/Fax |
| 29. Transportation Details
(Flight No./ Vessel, etc.): |
***ONLY THIS PAGE
NECESSARY FOR PRE-EXPORT NOTIFICATION***
INFORMATION ABOUT
CLANDESTINE DRUG LABS
In the fight against the drugs today there is
a growing danger that presents a great challenge to all law enforcement
agencys investigators: the illegal drug lab. These labs can be set up
virtually anywhere, by almost anyone, to produce large or small quantities
of illegal drugs such as LSD, synthetic heroin, methamphetamine or the most
popular drug of choice in South Africa, Mandrax. While these homemade drugs
are dangerous, the labs that produce them are equally dangerous. These labs,
called clandestine drug labs (clan labs), can mean disaster for the
investigator that stumbles across one while on an investigation. Toxic
chemicals, explosions, fires, and even booby traps can be encountered when
coming across a clandestine drug lab.
Meth labs have been around
since the Nazis developed a production method that could be used in the
field by their soldiers during World War II. The meth lab problem first
became a concern in the United States during the sixties, when outlaw
motorcycle gangs began producing and trafficking their own methamphetamine.
With simple production methods, easily attainable chemicals and high profits
the clan lab problem will certainly keep escalating in the years to come.
Most of the ingredients used
to manufacture the drug can be purchased at the local retail store. The
equipment used in the production process can range from a mason jar to
sophisticated laboratory equipment. Unlike other dangerous drugs such as
LSD, it doesn't take a college educated chemist to produce methamphetamine.
With Internet access available to virtually everyone, many clan lab chemists
have posted their recipes on the web. Users can set up a small lab in their
kitchen or even in their car to produce enough drugs to sustain their
addiction. Some labs have been found in mobile homes, basements, apartments,
tractor-trailers, vans, and even in mini-storage facilities.
The process being used
determines the chemicals that will be present at the lab. During the initial
mixing and heating of the chemicals, there is a danger of fire, explosions,
and the emission of toxic gases. Hydriodic vapors can be present in the
first phase of production of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), simply from
the presence of hydriodic acid or as a by-product emitted from heating the
mixture of ephedrine, hydriodic acid, and red phosphorous. If this mixture
is allowed to cook dry, a highly unstable and poisonous phosphine gas will
be generated. Phosphine gas has a garlic-like odor and is dissipated easily,
but the greatest threat occurs when a concentration of this gas is exposed
to a spark, causing a dangerous chemical fire. In the case of short-term
exposure, the toxic fumes from these gases can cause nausea. Prolonged
exposure to phosphine gas, hydriodic acid, and phosphoric acid can cause
internal chemical burns and permanent respiratory damage. When red
phosphorous is used it must be separated, using pillowcases or bed sheets as
filters, before a base is added. Bases, such as sodium hydroxide
(lye/caustic soda) will make the red phosphorous very unstable and could
lead to fires or explosions. Red phosphorous is not water-soluble and could
become part of the finished product. High concentrations of this could prove
fatal to users. While converting to a base the greatest hazard encountered
will be from spills of acidic mixtures. Large amounts of sodium hydroxide
waste are produced when d-methamphetamine is being extracted from the sodium
hydroxide solution. Freon or other solvents such as Coleman fuel are used to
"drag" the d-methamphetamine from the sodium hydroxide solution.
After completion of the
production process, a large amount of hazardous waste is left. The hazardous
waste generated is dumped on site or hauled away to other areas and dumped
in rivers, streams, or wooded areas. This creates a great hazard to the
environment as well as the people who live around these sites and those who
are called to respond on hazardous materials calls. If large amounts of
waste are discarded, the contaminants may reach the water supply and corrupt
or poison crops or livestock that draw upon the water, creating secondary
contamination. Many labs
can produce large quantities of finished product in only twelve hours. Five
to six pounds of waste are produced in the manufacturing of every pound of
finished product.
Common types of waste found at dump sites
Liquids such as sodium hydroxide can be left in containers, which will
corrode and leak over time, or just simply dumped onto the ground causing
soil sterilization and local water contamination. When separating red
phosphorous, many lab cooks use bed sheets or pillowcases. These fabrics
retain large amounts of red phosphorous and hydriodic acid, which will
remain a hazard for decades. Red phosphorous remains highly combustible even
after being buried for years. Attempting to dig up or clean up the site
could create enough friction to ignite the red phosphorous, causing chemical
fires. Almost any type of sealed container that can hold pressurized gas can
be used in clan labs. Fire extinguishers, scuba tanks and soda dispensers
have been used to generate hydrogen chloride gas. Anhydrous ammonia has been
found in modified propane cylinders and large pressurized cylinders.
Not only are there dangers
from toxic chemicals and gases, fires, or explosions, but also from
booby-traps. The clan lab cooks use booby-traps for warning and for
protection. Sometimes explosive devices are set to destroy a lab if raided
by police. Any normal movement, such as opening a door or turning on a light
switch can trigger these traps. Any unsuspecting person could set off these
devices, leading to bodily injury or even death. These devices will commonly
be found at areas of normal entry including front or back doors, gates, and
windows. Trip wires may be found on any pathway, not just sidewalks or
entryways. It is very
important to size up a scene to avoid the dangers of a clan lab. When
encountering any signs that the area to be entered could be a drug lab,
extreme caution should be taken. After it has been confirmed that it is a
drug lab, all members should be removed from the area, and the area should
subsequently be considered as a hot zone. There is no treatment for most
chemicals used in clandestine labs, it primarily consists of decontamination
and alleviation of symptoms. The smaller labs are usually more dangerous
than the larger operations because the cooks are generally less experienced
chemists who often have little or no regard for the safety issues that arise
when dealing with explosive and poisonous chemicals. In South Africa, these
small labs are likely to be encountered much more often than super labs.
Safe Method of Handling
Chemicals A.
Storage
-
Strong mineral acids can
react violently with organic compounds and bases.
-
Acids must be stored
separately from alkalis.
-
All liquid corrosives must
be stored inside cabinets/cupboards fitted with secondary containers
capable of retaining at least half of the volume of liquid corrosive
stored.
-
All containers of strong
mineral acids and phosphorous and sulphur halides must be checked to
ensure adequate containment.
B. Use
-
Fume hoods must
always be used when handling chemicals.
-
Safety glasses and/or face
shields must always be worn when handling any chemical, especially
corrosive liquid or solid.
-
When diluting acid, ALWAYS
add acid to water ("A comes before W") not water to acid.
-
Strong mineral acids can
react violently with organic compounds and bases.
C. Personal Protective
Equipment
-
Fume hoods must
always be used when handling chemicals.
-
Eye protection and/or face
shields must always be worn when handling chemicals.
-
Face shields, plastic
coats and rubber gloves must be worn when handling bulk chemicals.
D. Disposal
E. Spills
-
Use the correct gloves.
-
Neutralise acids with a
large volume of sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate which will
neutralise and absorb liquid leaving a solid which can be swept up.
-
Neutralise alkali spills
with diluted acetic acid and absorb with absorbent or sawdust.
-
Use absorbent materials in
spill kits to wipe up solvent wiping from outside of spill toward
centre.
-
Place used absorbent
material in impermeable/airtight container.
-
inform Forensic Laboratory
and arrange for immediate disposal.
back to top
|
