MDMA manufacture

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More concrete information is required on the substances actually used in the illicit manufacture of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy) and on the methods of diversion of the acetic anhydride used for illicit heroin manufacture in Afghanistan. Those situations must be addressed in the near future and, for example, a limited-time operation for monitoring the international trade in safrole will be launched shortly under Project Prism. The Board is also participating in capacity-building exercises in Afghanistan under Operation Topaz. 

Seizures of all of the substances in Tables I and II, with the exception of isosafrole and piperonal, both substances used in the illicit manufacture of MDMA (Ecstasy), have been reported for 2003 by 43 Governments, and seizures of 65 non-controlled chemicals have been reported by 22 Governments. As the information relating to non-controlled substances is essential to the revision of the adequacy and propriety of the current lists of substances in Tables I and II of the 1988 Convention, as well as to the maintenance of the limited international special surveillance list of non-scheduled substances, the Board encourages Governments to ensure that mechanisms are in place to record information on all chemicals found to be used in the illicit manufacture of drugs and not only those scheduled under the 1988 Convention. 

The volume of 3,4-MDP-2-P seizures for 2003 was the lowest reported since 1998 other than the Netherlands, only Estonia reported seizures of the substance during 2003. The latter case is particularly noteworthy as the seizure of 3,4-MDP-2-P was made at an MDMA (Ecstasy) laboratory and, in addition to the precursor, 26,000 MDMA tablets and 60 litres of liquid MDMA were also seized. More importantly, the authorities of Estonia, in cooperation with their counterparts from the Russian Federation, launched backtracking investigations to identify the source of the seized 3,4-MDP-2-P. That investigation led to the identification and dismantling of a laboratory illicitly manufacturing 3,4-MDP-2-P in the Russian Federation... 

Australia also reported its largest ever seizure of safrole for 2003, when an attempt was made to smuggle over 400 litres of the substance into the country by declaring it as white oil , an industrial oil used in the manufacture of cosmetics. Together with the safrole, authorities found methylamine, a non-controlled substance used in the illicit manufacture of MDMA and methamphetamine. The Board is pleased to note that, through proper follow-up investigations into the interception, an illicit MDMA laboratory in the country was identified and dismantled. 

The United States also reported the dismantling of six illicit MDMA laboratories during 2003, along with the seizure of over 100 litres of safrole. In that regard, the Board has noted that safrole appears to be the precursor of choice in North America for illicit manufacture of MDMA, as opposed to 3,4-MDP-2-P, which is used in Europe. The Board intends to look more closely into the matter to determine what role the availability, both commercial and criminal, of the two substances plays in traffickers decisions as to what substance to use. 

Illicit manufacture of MDMA and related drugs scheduled substances and the approximate quantities of them required for the manufacture of 100 litres of 3,4-MDP-2-P... 

Pipersonal, safrole and isosafrole are all precursors for the production of 3,4-MDP-2-P and thus pre-precursors for the manufacture of MDMA. 

Safrole is a substance included in Table I of the 1988 Convention that is used in the manufacture of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, also known as ecstasy ). In its resolution 49/7, the... 

For the year 2006, 27 countries reported imports of piperonal totalling 1,022 tons. Flowever, global seizures of the substance during that year (1 kg) were negligible compared with those reported in the previous five years (6-17 tons per year). No explanation of that fact was immediately available, bearing in mind that piperonal can be used as a substitute for 3,4-MDP-2-P in the illicit manufacture of MDMA. 

Safrole and Sassfras Oil are Used in the Illicit Manufacture of MDMA... 

While Australia frequently reports seizures of P-2-P, reports of seizures of 3,4 MDP-2-P have been less frequent. The Board notes that seizures of piperonal, which may be used as a substitute for 3,4-MDP-2-P in the illicit manufacture of MDMA ( ecstasy ), have been increasing steadily over the past five years. As noted in its 2005 report on the implementation of article 12 of the 1988 Convention,15 the Board has continued to monitor the licit trade and trafficking in piperonal while some of the seizures in Australia could be linked to illicit trafficking, there is currently no indication, either from seizures or as a result of chemical analysis, that piperonal is being widely used as a substitute in the illicit manufacture of MDMA. 

While successes have been achieved in stemming the flow of precursors of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy ) and amphetamine into Western Europe, little is known about the new methods and routes being used by traffickers to divert those substances. Every effort should be made to identify which precursors are actually being used in the illicit manufacture of MDMA. For example, techniques such as impurity profiling of seized samples can yield valuable information, which can then be used to either guide investigations or to advise policymaking bodies. 

Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA). 1900 K Street, N.W. Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006, U.S.A. Phone +1 202-496-7150. E-mail mdmainfo medicaldevices.org. URL http //www.medicaldevices.org. National trade association representing independent manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products, and health-care information systems. Its stated mission is to promote public health and improve patient care through the advocacy of innovative, research-driven medical device technology, and to this end is proactive in trying to influence policy that impacts medical... 

The vast majority of ecstasy consumed domestically is produced in Europe. It costs as little as 25 to 50 cents to manufacture an ecstasy tablet in Europe, but the street value of that same ecstasy tablet can be as high as 40, with a tablet typically selling for between 20 and 30. A limited number of ecstasy laboratories operate in the United States. Law enforcement seized 17 clandestine ecstasy laboratories in the United States in 2001 compared to 7 seized in 2000. United States Customs Service statistics show a dramatic increase in seiznres of MDMA tablets. In fiscal year 1997, approximately 400,000 MDMA tablets were seized, compared to approximately 7.2 milhon tablets seized in fiscal year 2001. On Inly 22,2000, approximately 2.1 milhon tablets worth an estimated 40 million were seized in Los Angeles. To date this is the largest seiznre of MDMA tablets in the United States. ... 

Manufacturers of fllicit drugs sometimes substimte other, potentially more dangerons snbstances for the one the bnyer is expecting. Other suppliers produce products adulterated with chemical byproducts of the incomplete synthesis of active ingredients. One snch chemical, para-methoxyamphetamine, is a drastically more potent hyperthermic agent than MDMA. Deaths from the drng likely will rise as a result of these poor-quahty tablets. 

While 3,4-MDP-2-P remains the chemical of choice in the illicit manufacture of MDMA, the Board noted that, during 2004, the competent authorities of China had seized over 13 tons of piperonal. Furthermore, a shipment of 4 tons of the substance from the Hong Kong SAR to Indonesia was stopped in 2005. The Board also noted that the Romanian authorities had seized nearly 2.5 tons of piperonal in 2004. While further details surrounding those seizures and stopped shipments have not yet been supplied, it is of concern that traffickers may be turning to this widely available substance for use as a precursor in the manufacture of 3,4-MDP-2-P, methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA) or MDMA. 

It has been known since 2002 that the illicit manufacture of MDMA was taking place in Indonesia, when authorities dismantled an illicit laboratory in that country. The suspects involved in that laboratory who were able to avoid arrest were found to have set up a further MDMA laboratory, which Indonesian authorities identified and successfully dismantled in 2005. As in other regions, the scenario of criminals continually setting up illicit laboratories is well documented and, within the scope of existing legislation, authorities should make efforts to prevent such recurring activities. 

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