NT drug labs on increase

It is only a matter of time before a clandestine drug laboratory explodes in the NT, police said yesterday.

Police last week seized their 19th ``clan'' lab since last July after early-morning walkers stumbled across dismantled drug-making equipment in Darwin's Botanic Gardens.

Only six drug labs were discovered by Territory police the previous financial year.

Drug Enforcement Section Superintendent Kris Evans said evidence suggested amphetamine production is on the increase in the NT.

``Amphetamine use throughout the world is on the increase and it is turning into the drug of choice in the Territory,'' he said.

``Its production and use involves people across a broad spectrum of society from outlawed motorcycle gangs to middle-class professionals.

``Clan lab operators are running a real risk as the chemical process used to make amphetamines requires the mixture of volatile chemicals that are usually prepared in dangerous and unhygienic conditions.

``Racing fuel can be used to extract the pseudoephedrine from cold and flu tablets and buildings have been blown apart from clan labs in other parts of Australia and overseas.

``It's only a matter of time before someone in the NT is seriously injured or worse from an explosion.''

Supt Evans said the practice of ``pseudo runs'' - where drug-makers target pharmacists to stockpile cold and flu tablets used in the production of amphetamines - was not as prevalent in the NT as other states.

``There are only about 20 chemists in Darwin and they all follow the code of practice that monitors the movement of cold and flu tablets,'' he said.

``There is enough pseudoephedrine in a packet of 30 cold and flu tablets to produce $1000 worth of amphetamines,'' he said.

The NT will host the 9th National Chemical Diversion Congress in October, bringing together the major agencies responsible for discovering and prosecuting those involved in the illicit drug trade.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 23 June 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Greg McLean
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283