By: Dawn Truell, President, Cross Border Services

KHAT hitting our streets in vast amounts

On August 7 this summer 72.8 kilograms of Ketamine, better known as KHAT, along with 23.5 kilograms of Norephedrine was found in a Toronto bound Sea Container at the Port of Montreal in 500 sacks of rice originating from India.

CBSA Officers at the Port of Montreal examined the container of rice and discovered the drugs, further contacting the RCMP for full investigation. The GTA SOC, Serious and Organized Crime section of the RCMP investigated trying to identify the individuals responsible for this illegal shipment of Ketamine and Norephedrine into Canada. Three male suspects in the Highway 27 and Woodbine Avenue area in Toronto were arrested; Itolo Mallozzi, 57 of Dufferin County, ON, Kevin Gowanlock, 49 of Orillia, ON and Amritbal Gill, 35 of Brampton, ON. This illegal shipment of drugs was linked not only to these individuals but also to organized crime. The three were charged with importing a controlled substance into Canada, possession for the purpose of trafficking and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Ketamine aka KHAT is a drug that very much worries this writer; it is one of the most dangerous drugs being trafficked today. It first came on the North American scene after the giant Rave explosion, often mixed with other drugs like methamphetamine. KHAT is a psychosomatic drug inducing paranoid psychosis. It originated from and is wide spread in Somalia. Also found in Ethiopia, Ertirea, Rwanda, Zaire, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkistan and Yemen. KHAT is so dangerous and has immediate effects on one’s brain. The so called recreational usage of this highly dangerous illegal drug is quite literally driving people “Mad”, causing severe psychiatric conditions and death. Increased seizures and trafficking of Ketamine in Canada have sparked increased heightened security awareness of this drug and the illegal importation by the organized crime groups.

 

For information regarding any topic listed above or anti smuggling, anti human trafficking and anti terrorism initiatives such as PIP, FAST, C-TPAT, CSA please contact Dawn Truell of Cross Border Services 905-973-9136 [email protected]  www.c-tpat-certified.com