AG PRODUCERS URGED TO JOIN CRYSTAL METH FIGHT

The Government of Saskatchewan is urging agricultural producers to ensure that their supplies of anhydrous ammonia are secure following restrictions on other crystal methamphetamine ingredients.

"This is a very serious safety issue," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "We all understand that crystal meth is a highly dangerous and addictive drug, but it is also important to know that anhydrous ammonia tanks that have been tampered with pose serious dangers to producers and distributors."

Anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient in several formulas for making crystal meth. Now that other ingredients are more difficult to access, unsecured supplies of the fertilizer have become targets for drug dealers in Western Canada and the Midwestern United States.

Agricultural producers are asked to ensure that anhydrous ammonia tanks are kept in safe, secure and secluded locations - and to carefully inspect tanks for any signs of tampering or unauthorized access. If any evidence of theft exists, producers should leave the area immediately and contact the fertilizer dealer and the RCMP.

"In April of this year, Saskatchewan, along with most other provinces, further restricted the sale of cold remedies containing ingredients used to make crystal meth," Healthy Living Services Minister Graham Addley said. "Today, we are encouraging producers to make it even more difficult for individuals to manufacture crystal meth in our province."

"Crystal methamphetamine labs are dangerous not only because of the drug they produce, but also because of the potential for explosions, fires, and toxic fumes from the cooking process," Addley said. "Our government continues to take proactive steps to prevent the development of meth labs in Saskatchewan by restricting access to products containing the main ingredients used for making the drug."

Additional information can be found by contacting Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food or the RCMP.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031