This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/magazine-11177126
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| How cutting drugs became big business | How cutting drugs became big business |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine | By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine |
| It's a booming industry, say police. So how are legal anaesthetics making people so rich illegally? | It's a booming industry, say police. So how are legal anaesthetics making people so rich illegally? |
| They call it the "bash" or "smash" trade and in the current financial climate it is one cut that is netting some people a small fortune. | They call it the "bash" or "smash" trade and in the current financial climate it is one cut that is netting some people a small fortune. |
| The black market trade of selling legal chemicals to drug dealers to be used as so-called cutting agents has become a highly lucrative trade of its own, a BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast investigation has found. | The black market trade of selling legal chemicals to drug dealers to be used as so-called cutting agents has become a highly lucrative trade of its own, a BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast investigation has found. |
| Legally imported in bulk, the substances are mixed in with the illegal Class A drugs cocaine and ecstasy by dealers to maximise profits. Demand is so high because they numb the mouth like cocaine, so customers think they are getting better quality drugs - and will pay more. | Legally imported in bulk, the substances are mixed in with the illegal Class A drugs cocaine and ecstasy by dealers to maximise profits. Demand is so high because they numb the mouth like cocaine, so customers think they are getting better quality drugs - and will pay more. |
| "The mark-up is starting to get as high as the likes of the coke," says one ex-drug dealer from Liverpool, who spoke anonymously to the BBC. "The money people are making off the cutting agents, it's through the roof. | "The mark-up is starting to get as high as the likes of the coke," says one ex-drug dealer from Liverpool, who spoke anonymously to the BBC. "The money people are making off the cutting agents, it's through the roof. |
| "That is the big market now. If you can get a really good cutting agent, people will pay through the roof so they can three times as much into their own stuff, so they can make three times as much profit." | "That is the big market now. If you can get a really good cutting agent, people will pay through the roof so they can three times as much into their own stuff, so they can make three times as much profit." |
| As well as a boom in the black market trade, police say there has been a drop in the purity of illegal drugs. They told the BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast investigation that cocaine and ecstasy is now "weaker" than at any other time since they started carrying out purity tests over a decade ago. The Forensic Science Service, which tests drugs for the police, found the amount of cocaine it looked at that was less than 10% pure more than doubled last year to 38%. | As well as a boom in the black market trade, police say there has been a drop in the purity of illegal drugs. They told the BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast investigation that cocaine and ecstasy is now "weaker" than at any other time since they started carrying out purity tests over a decade ago. The Forensic Science Service, which tests drugs for the police, found the amount of cocaine it looked at that was less than 10% pure more than doubled last year to 38%. |
| All drugs have always been cut with substances by dealers to make as much profit as possible. Previously cocaine and ecstasy would have mainly been mixed with things like caffeine and glucose, but now certain anaesthetics are the cutting agent of choice. | All drugs have always been cut with substances by dealers to make as much profit as possible. Previously cocaine and ecstasy would have mainly been mixed with things like caffeine and glucose, but now certain anaesthetics are the cutting agent of choice. |
| The substances - such as benzocaine and lidocaine - are legal and imported from countries like China. They are used in the UK as a dental anaesthetic and as an ingredient in first aid ointments, throat sprays and sunburn remedies. | The substances - such as benzocaine and lidocaine - are legal and imported from countries like China. They are used in the UK as a dental anaesthetic and as an ingredient in first aid ointments, throat sprays and sunburn remedies. |
| Conspiracy | Conspiracy |
| They are so popular because they closely mimic the physical sensations associated with cocaine, such as a numbing of the mouth or nose, says Dean Ames, a leading drugs scientist at the Forensic Science Service. | They are so popular because they closely mimic the physical sensations associated with cocaine, such as a numbing of the mouth or nose, says Dean Ames, a leading drugs scientist at the Forensic Science Service. |
| This convinces people they have got a good product and massively increases the dealers' profit margin, say drug charities. | This convinces people they have got a good product and massively increases the dealers' profit margin, say drug charities. |
| "It's a savvy way for dealers to cover the fact that the purity of drugs like cocaine is getting less and less," says Martin Barnes, the chief executive of DrugScope. "If there is a numbing of the tongue and nose people think the cocaine they are using is purer than it actually is. | "It's a savvy way for dealers to cover the fact that the purity of drugs like cocaine is getting less and less," says Martin Barnes, the chief executive of DrugScope. "If there is a numbing of the tongue and nose people think the cocaine they are using is purer than it actually is. |
| "They want people to think the drugs are better quality because they want them to come back for more." | "They want people to think the drugs are better quality because they want them to come back for more." |
| Police say the substances are being brought for a little as £10 a kilo, if ordered in bulk, and are being sold on to dealers for up to £300. The profits are getting so good some criminal gangs have now stopped selling illegal drugs to focus on buying and selling the legal chemicals the industry is demanding. | Police say the substances are being brought for a little as £10 a kilo, if ordered in bulk, and are being sold on to dealers for up to £300. The profits are getting so good some criminal gangs have now stopped selling illegal drugs to focus on buying and selling the legal chemicals the industry is demanding. |
| "Straight away you can see a massive mark-up on the imported substances," says Mick Matthews, Deputy Chief Constable with Gloucestershire Police. He is also the Association of Chief Police Officer's leading specialist on the cocaine industry. | "Straight away you can see a massive mark-up on the imported substances," says Mick Matthews, Deputy Chief Constable with Gloucestershire Police. He is also the Association of Chief Police Officer's leading specialist on the cocaine industry. |
| "The mark-up again from the cutting agent being added to an illegal substance, well that just goes through the roof. | "The mark-up again from the cutting agent being added to an illegal substance, well that just goes through the roof. |
| "A kilo of cocaine, current price around £50,000, if you double that kilo with benzocaine and you have two kilos the dealer could then probably knock that out for something in the region of £80,000-£90,000. So as you can see the profit margin on their initial outlay is significant." | "A kilo of cocaine, current price around £50,000, if you double that kilo with benzocaine and you have two kilos the dealer could then probably knock that out for something in the region of £80,000-£90,000. So as you can see the profit margin on their initial outlay is significant." |
| The chemicals are easily available on the internet, but drug dealers are not going to buy them themselves and leave a credit card trail for police to pick up on - hence the middle man. | The chemicals are easily available on the internet, but drug dealers are not going to buy them themselves and leave a credit card trail for police to pick up on - hence the middle man. |
| "People are just bringing the cutting agent in and making that much money off it because there is a need for it," says the ex-dealer. | "People are just bringing the cutting agent in and making that much money off it because there is a need for it," says the ex-dealer. |
| Incinerated | Incinerated |
| "There is a demand for good cutting agent because it makes your gear. You can put three times as much of a good quality cutting agent in your stuff and you're obviously making three times as much money." | "There is a demand for good cutting agent because it makes your gear. You can put three times as much of a good quality cutting agent in your stuff and you're obviously making three times as much money." |
| While they are not illegal to important, it is illegal to supply these chemicals to the underground drugs trade. The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is now specifically targeting those dealing in the substances. If importers are unable to explain why they want such large quantities, the drugs are incinerated. Conspiracy laws are also being used to prosecute people. | |
| Earlier this year, SOCA seized 83 barrels (two tonnes) of benzocaine in just one week. The haul represented one-fifth of the UK's annual legitimate use of the drug. The importers were unable to explain why they needed the stuff so police disposed of it. | Earlier this year, SOCA seized 83 barrels (two tonnes) of benzocaine in just one week. The haul represented one-fifth of the UK's annual legitimate use of the drug. The importers were unable to explain why they needed the stuff so police disposed of it. |
| But the quick money to be made from such cutting agents means there is a growing number of people ordering and selling it from their homes. It is not just organised crime gangs, say police. | But the quick money to be made from such cutting agents means there is a growing number of people ordering and selling it from their homes. It is not just organised crime gangs, say police. |
| "An individual was found to be selling what could be used as cutting agents from his garage on an housing estate in vast quantities, advertising in local papers and also on the internet," says Deputy Chief Constable Matthews told BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast. | "An individual was found to be selling what could be used as cutting agents from his garage on an housing estate in vast quantities, advertising in local papers and also on the internet," says Deputy Chief Constable Matthews told BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast. |
| In many cases people have to be licensed to import certain chemicals, but not always. Police say licences could be extended to cover more substances, but are wary of additional legislation being bought in that would make life hard for legitimate businesses. | In many cases people have to be licensed to import certain chemicals, but not always. Police say licences could be extended to cover more substances, but are wary of additional legislation being bought in that would make life hard for legitimate businesses. |
| The boom in the trade could have serious health implications for the people who are using the drugs, including liver and heart problems. The chances of someone taking an overdose also increase. | The boom in the trade could have serious health implications for the people who are using the drugs, including liver and heart problems. The chances of someone taking an overdose also increase. |
| "Any drug is harmful, however pure it is," says Mr Barnes. "But variations in purity due to cutting agent being used increases the risk of an overdose. People just do not know what strength of drug they are taking." | "Any drug is harmful, however pure it is," says Mr Barnes. "But variations in purity due to cutting agent being used increases the risk of an overdose. People just do not know what strength of drug they are taking." |
| Police also believe it could have other knock-on effects. | Police also believe it could have other knock-on effects. |
| "Officers don't always know what they are dealing with," says Deputy Chief Constable Matthews. "The normal effects of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, they are pretty well recognisable for the police. | "Officers don't always know what they are dealing with," says Deputy Chief Constable Matthews. "The normal effects of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, they are pretty well recognisable for the police. |
| "When it is mixed with something not known that can have a completely different side effect, that changes the temperament of the situation. It can change the behaviour of the individual, that has to create further risks." | "When it is mixed with something not known that can have a completely different side effect, that changes the temperament of the situation. It can change the behaviour of the individual, that has to create further risks." |
| Add your comments using the form below | Add your comments using the form below |