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Drugs go up in smoke

Jessica Gray
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 11/06) - Getting drugs off the streets is only one part of the RCMP's job - it's also responsible for destroying any narcotics that are seized.

To make sure there are as few mistakes as possible, Mounties and Health Canada, a partner in identifying suspected drugs and illegal substances, follow a rigorous process with many checks and balances.

NNSL Photo/graphic

Cpl. Ken Cooper holds what police believe are drugs, kept in the exhibit locker at the RCMP detachment. All illegal substances and narcotics are incinerated, he said. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

"Drugs are a problem everywhere," said RCMP Cpl. Ken Cooper. When it comes to Yellowknife, "marijuana, cocaine, and crack- cocaine" are the drugs of choice, he said.

If illegal drugs are found, but cannot be connected to anyone, the RCMP holds onto the substance for 60 days, after which it contacts Health Canada to request the substance be destroyed.

Health Canada will then look at the report filed by the RCMP and grant the request.

If a person is charged with drug offenses and pleads guilty, the same process applies after the court proceedings are finished and the 60-day holding requirement is fulfilled.

The only time the RCMP sends a sample to Health Canada for testing is when a person pleads not guilty to a drug charge and the substance is used as evidence.

The suspected drug takes about six weeks to test. These drugs are destroyed after the trial is completed.

According to the Health Canada website, its drug analysis services receive 90,000 samples every year from police and Customs Canada. The drug-identification process is documented stringently, said Cooper.

"It's to make sure they're destroyed and that they stay off the streets."

Cooper said he destroys "an abundance of drugs" about four times a year.

When the RCMP receive permission to destroy the substances, they are taken to the incinerator on the fourth floor of the Yellowknife detachment.

Two people, usually the exhibit custodian and another officer, check that the files are complete, said Cooper.

After warming up the incinerator for a few hours, the "pile" of drugs is burned for eight hours, said Cooper.

Substances that aren't drugs are thrown out with regular garbage if they are not dangerous, said Cooper.

All illegal substances, including drug paraphernalia like pipes or bongs, are destroyed said Cooper.

The process of identifying drugs isn't foolproof, however. Last month, what police believed was four kilograms of cocaine turned out to be white powder.

Errors in the process are rare though, said Cooper.