NCJ Number
135937
Date Published
1991
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This briefing report responds to Senator Edward Kennedy's request for information on the implementation of the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act (CDTA) of 1988 and on Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) activities.
Abstract
The report looks at methods used by DEA to identify chemical firms subject to the CDTA, to establish threshold quantities that trigger the CDTA's transaction recordkeeping and reporting requirements, to identify transactions for investigation, and to assess the need for international control over chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs. Findings show that the CDTA does not require chemical handlers to register with the Federal Government; DEA is left to identify chemical handlers. Initially, DEA identified handlers through questionnaires and had noted 2,859 domestic chemical handlers subject to the CDTA as of December 1990. Although DEA is making progress in identifying chemical handlers, new firms are continuously entering the market and the process of monitoring them is dynamic. As required by the CDTA, DEA and the chemical industry have established threshold quantities for chemicals on the basis of DEA's criteria for defining major drug traffickers and determination of standard shipping quantities. When planned shipments of chemicals meet or exceed threshold quantities, chemical handlers are required to follow the CDTA's recordkeeping and reporting requirements. DEA is using the CDTA's import/export provisions as key mechanisms for targeting transactions to investigate. Under the CDTA, U.S. importers and exporters are required to report shipments that meet or exceed threshold quantities to DEA 15 days before the shipment. DEA has encouraged several initiatives to strengthen international controls over chemicals diverted for illegal drug production. 2 figures