| Description: |
Launched in 2009 in response to growing problems associated with the production, trafficking, export and domestic demand for illicit synthetic drugs, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Synthetic Drug Initiative (SDI) focuses and combines the efforts of government agencies that receive federal funding through the National Anti-Drug Strategy (NADS).
The SDI working group, which involves Public Safety Canada, Health Canada, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other partners and stakeholders, meets quarterly to discuss emerging concerns and operational support needs. Work with the domestic chemical industry, through ChemWatch and other programs, addresses the diversion of chemicals and their use in the illicit production of synthetic drugs. Clandestine Labs Teams investigate both chemical diversion and synthetic drug production, with a focus on organized crime. The SDI has also developed transnational partnerships to cooperate and exchange real-time information regarding the procurement of chemicals by organized crime groups. |
| Objective: |
The initiative strives to develop new ways to abate the synthetic drug problem in Canada. The goal is to enhance law enforcement's ability to identify, disrupt and dismantle organized crime groups profiting from the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs. |
| Outcomes: |
All federal government partners are now working together on common goals, and have met several important objectives. For example, the RCMP and CBSA now work together more closely in an operational setting, sharing intelligence and experiences. |
| Resources: |
There were no significant set-up costs. The SDI is a collaboration among government agencies that receive NADS funding and were already working to address the synthetic drug problem in Canada. |
| Pillars: |
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| Province: |
Ontario |
| Keywords: |
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| Record Entry Date: |
2015-03-01 |