Farmers and fertilizer suppliers are being urged to keep a close eye on their anhydrous ammonia tanks as thefts of the chemical may increase.
RCMP officers across the Prairies are watching for an increase in thefts of anhydrous ammonia to be used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, or crystal meth as it is commonly known.
Although use of the powerful stimulant hasn’t reached epidemic proportions in Canada like it has south of the border, it is gaining popularity. One method of making the drug uses anhydrous ammonia in the reaction process.
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While there have been few reported thefts of anhydrous ammonia in any of the three prairie provinces, RCMP have no idea how much of the chemical is being diverted into the illicit manufacture of crystal meth. So far, the theft of anhydrous ammonia has gone virtually unreported to police.
“We’ve seen some indications that some people are trying it. We haven’t had anybody charged,” said sgt. Ian Sanderson, RCMP drug awareness co-ordinator in Edmonton. He said reports of abandoned small propane bottles and evidence of small anhydrous labs have indicated that the activity is going on, but there have been no corresponding reports of theft.
This drug manufacture method is gaining in popularity, especially in agricultural areas, due to the readily available supply of the fertilizer.
“We haven’t been plagued with it yet, so we haven’t been securing our tanks. It is obviously easy to obtain, due to the large farming area,” said cpl. Marc Samson, RCMP synthetic drugs operations co-ordinator in Winnipeg.
The RCMP is raising awareness of the issue in an effort to prevent future thefts.
The risk of an inadvertent release of the dangerous gas is high, since if the anhydrous ammonia is stolen, it is often inappropriately transferred in unapproved containers like Thermos bottles or barbecue tanks, which can fail.
What can farmers do?
Good prevention can go a long way. The RCMP is encouraging anyone involved in the sale or use of anhydrous ammonia to lock all valves and store application equipment in well-lit or highly visible areas.
Check storage tanks regularly for signs of tampering or evidence of abandoned propane bottles, hoses or tools. Any suspicious incidents should be reported to the RCMP.
“Reporting all suspicious activity or incidents to the police is really important because that enables us to go in and look at just exactly what’s going on,” said Sanderson.
“If the interest in it and the thefts and incidents relating to it are on the increase, then obviously we need to target resources and strategies in that area to try and prevent it.”
