Ref. Ares(2013) /03/2013

Transcription

1 Ref. Ares(2013) /03/2013 DIRECTORATE-GENERAL TAXATION AND CUSTOMS UNION m EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRY

2 FOREWORD Drug precursors have wide legitimate uses (e.g. in the synthesis of plastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumes, detergents, or aromas), but can be diverted from the licit distribution channels for the production of illicit drugs (e.g. heroin, cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines) which pose a serious threat to security and health. Therefore, monitoring the licit trade in drug precursors is essential to prevent their diversion and misuse for the illicit drug manufacture. This involves close co-operation among the respective national competent authorities (notably Health, Police and Customs) as well as with the private sector and third countries. The EU drug precursor legislation 1 requires a systematic reporting from Member States on seizures and stopped shipments of drug precursors which allows identifying the evolution of trends in drug precursors trafficking and diversion. In 2012, the Commission proposed to amend the legislation in order to keep pace with the latest trafficking trends and address certain weaknesses identified in the current legislation 2. This summary report provides an overview of the seizures and stopped shipments of drug precursors made by EU Member States in Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council; Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005; Commission Regulation (EC) No 1277/ COM (2012) 548 final; COM (2012) 521 final 2

3 The figures reported in 2011 have further confirmed the trend of sourcing non-scheduled substances including pre-precursors that can easily be transformed into the desired precursors with the aim to circumvent the existing controls on the scheduled substances. Among the non-scheduled substances, "alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile", also refered to as APAAN, remains a major concern for the European Union as it is used for large-scale production of BMK, the main amphetamine precursor. This issue requires a global response. Daniel Calleja Crespo Director General Directorate - General \j Taxation and Customs Union Directorate - General Enterprise and Industry 3

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Main findings Graphs; 1. Quantities of the most sensitive drug precursors seized or stopped in Quantities of other drug precursors seized or stopped in Number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of the most sensitive drug precursors in Number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of other drug precursors in Comparison of number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of the most sensitive drug precursors 6. Comparison of number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of other drug precursors Production of heroin Production of cocaine Production of methamphetamine and amphetamine

5 MAIN FINDINGS In 2011 the EU Member States reported 601 cases of seizures and stopped shipments of drug precursors, in comparison to 383 cases in the previous year. 15 cases of acetic anhydride (used in a wide range of chemical manufacturing processes, including medicinal products, but also for the illicit manufacture of heroin) with around 25 tons seized or stopped. There was an increase in the total quantities reported from 21 tons in 2010 to 25 tons in 2011; however 76% of this amount was stopped by operators themselves which demonstrated the close partnership between economic operators and competent authorities of Member States. (1 to 4 litres of acetic anhydride are needed to obtain 1kg of heroin) < 11 cases of 1-phenyl-2-propanone, also referred to as BMK (used largely by the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, but also illegally for the manufacture of amphetamine and methamphetamine). While the number of cases of BMK increased from 9 cases in 2010 to 11 cases in 2011, the quantity of BMK seized significantly decreased from litres in 2010 to litres in (2 litres of BMK are needed to obtain 1kg of amphetamine or methamphetamine.) 5

6 1 case of 3,4 - methylenedioxy-phenylpropanone-2-one, also referred to as PMK (used in the manufacture of constituents of perfumes, but also illegally for the manufacture of different forms of ecstasy) was reported in This is in line with what was observed in previous years, when cases of PMK were low ( cases, case, no case, case, no case). ( litres are needed to obtain 1 kg of MDMA or MDA.) Ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine are legally used for pharmaceutical preparations/medicinal products, but are illegally used for the manufacture of methamphetamine. o Ephedrine: Whereas the number of seizures/stopped shipments of raw material went up (19 cases in 2010, 21 cases in 2011), the quantities decreased (from kg in 2010 to 632 kg in 2011). As regards pharmaceutical preparations containing ephedrine the quantities decreased (from 33 kg in 2010 to 24 kg in 2011), whilst the number of cases increased (from 41 in 2010 to 85 in 2011 ). o Pseudoephedrine: While the number of cases of raw material decreased from 15 in 2010 to 13 in 2011, there is a significant increase in quantities from kg in 2010 to kg in The quantity stopped (2 753 kg) is 9 times the quantity seized (299 kg). As regards pharmaceutical preparations containing pseudoephedrine there was a decline in both the number of cases (24 in 2010, 11 in 2011) as well as in quantities seized/stopped (110 kg in 2010, 53 kg in 2011). 6

7 (1.5 kg of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine is needed to produce 1 kg of methamphetamine.) 3 cases of phenylacetic acid (legally used for the synthesis of penicillin, perfume products and cleaning solutions, but also used in the illegal manufacture of amphetamine and methamphetamine) were reported in The quantities stopped and seized sharply increased from 2 kg in 201 Oto kg in {About 4 kg of phenylacetic acid are needed to obtain 1kg of amphetamine or methamphetamine.) 19 cases of potassium permanganate (legally used as oxidising reagent in chemical processes, but also used in the illegal manufacture of cocaine). In 2011 the number of cases increased to 19 compared to 5 cases in The quantities also strongly increased from 4 kg in 2010 to kg in It is important to note that only 0.79 kg were seized, 17 cases (representing a total of kg) were stopped shipments. 46 cases of hydrochloric acid (normally used in the textile industry and metal cleaning industry but also used in the illegal manufacture of all common drugs). In 2011, there was a slight decrease in the number of cases (from 47 in 2010 to 46 in 2011) while the quantity of hydrochloric acid seized or stopped increased (from litres in 2010 to litres in 2011). The figures show that that the diversion of basic chemicals (such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid. 7

8 acetone, etc.) which are used for the illicit production of a large number of drugs continued in (0.3 Litre of hydrochloric acid is needed to obtain 1 kg of cocaine or heroin hydrochloride.) 226 cases of gamma-butyrolactone, also referred to as GBL (widely used as solvent in the production of paints, vitamins and medicines, but also for the illicit manufacture of gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a psychoactive compound misused for drug assisted sexual assaults). In comparison to 2010, there was an increase in both the number of cases (from 139 to 226) and the quantity (from 253 litres to 609 litres). However, 66 % of the quantity reported (400 litres) were stopped shipments. 10 cases of alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile, also referred to as APAAN (a substance used in the limited amounts for research purposes, but also used for large-scale production of BMK, the main amphetamine precursor). In 2011, kg of APAAN were seized by the EU Member States. Moreover, the trend of sourcing non-scheduled substances as substitutes for the scheduled ones is being confirmed at international level and might have further developments. The graphs on the following pages provide an illustration of quantities and number of cases in 2011, including a comparison of the findings over the last three years ( ). 8

9 For further information: Website: http.v/ec.europa.eu/taxation customs/customs/customs controls/drugs precursors/index en.htm en.htm 9

10 GRAPHS 1. Quantities of the most sensitive drug precursors seized or stopped in ιΛ 1643 ГО / 632 / 4> 6005 ÍS 5? 24 is ж ţ<c 105 ν > /5 r <<r Λ 0 Ζ' 10

11 2. Quantities of other drug precursors seized or stopped in S2Ö _4233_ m ^ ^ ^ ^ J* rst ^ Ρ Ψ ^ ^ xe. Λ ^.оу -Λ ле> # ^ sŕ ^ гу <ŕ <c 0 <<^ ^ J*.cŕ ^ JS* sj? Ж.r ^ č

12 3. Number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of the most sensitive drug precursors in iá Hi 3 SwŞEîS H H н 12

13 4. Number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of other drug precursors in

14 5. Comparison of Number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of the most sensitive drug precursors

15 6. Companson of Number of cases (seizures and stopped shipments) of other drug precursors J 1 46 L _. J 1 1 > h Ł У.ŕ Jt / y j J- J- > ^ ^ ^ ^ ŕ & ^ ^ ^ ģ^ ^ ^ Ж ś P" ^ o# é ^ $

16 PRODUCTION OF HEROIN τ Λ ACETIC ANHYDRIDE Usually used for production of cellulose, dyes, plastics and medicines. Illicitly used as a key precursor for heroin production. Γ τ ( L needed to prepare 100kg heroin hydrochloride). ' Wir I 1 ( Lfor 100kg heroin hydrochloride) ^30L for 100kg heroin hydrochloride) 16

17 V PRODUCTION OF COCAINE vm\f J ( L needed for producing 100kg of cocaine hydrochloride) V, POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE Largely used in the water/waste industry, leather industry, medicines. Illicitiy used as an oxidizer in reaction with the plant coca to produce cocaine. (gâlf V κ У V и mm (20kg for 100kg cocaine hydrochloride) v M ι mm и«ма КЯИШХЖ ĒlOfL С31ШК][Ж ( OOOL for 100kg cocaine hydrochloride) Æ\( D (30L for 100kg cocaine hydrochloride), H CI 17

18 PRODUCTION OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND AMPHETAMINE (150kg for 100kg amphetamine sulphate or methamphetamine hydrochloride) (200L for 100kg amphetamine sulphate or methamphetamine hydrochloride) PS (150kg for 100kg amphetamine sulphate or methamphetamine hydrochloride) EPHEDRINE/PSEUDOEPHEDRINE Usually, used in the production of cough medicines, illicitly used as key precursors for the preparation of methamphetamine. "ir&üetemstü [}ūū [racā S [P[}ū S[JD()ū Cr GūS (p ltd0æ DoD DflQO ШтЛ ip[}q s[p[}q cpqú [PaūūSlCaJSoūDūū l}qd [ľflcä] ^ Ű DQ Ether DaD [ľ íj [rdqd. [Х]^[г0 (а]0 æld SULPHURIC ACID ç! AMPHETAMIN! i r ч У V. v i \ \ AMPHETAMINE Λ /" METHAMPHETAMINE HYDROCHLOraOE ] J AD y HYDROCHLORIC 1 ACID N 18