cannabisnews.com: Canada's Hashish Trade 'Funds Terrorists' Canada's Hashish Trade 'Funds Terrorists' Posted by FoM on February 16, 2002 at 08:38:51 PT By Jim Bronskill , Vancouver Sun Source: Vancouver Sun Proceeds from lucrative Asian hashish shipments smuggled into Canada likely ended up in the hands of "terrorist elements in Afghanistan," says an RCMP intelligence report.The Mounties believe violent extremists have routinely skimmed off a portion of the millions of dollars in drug money flowing annually from Canada to southwest Asia. A copy of the November 2001 criminal intelligence report, Narcoterrorism and Canada, was obtained by Southam News under the Access to Information Act. The declassified RCMP document represents the latest indication of Canada's role as a supplier of funds to terrorist groups operating abroad.The illicit drug trade in Afghanistan has long been considered a primary source of money for the recently deposed Taliban, which supported terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network.According to police estimates, most of the more than 100 tonnes of hashish reaching the Canadian market each year has originated in Afghanistan and Pakistan.Canadian traffickers have paid an average of $200 US per kilogram to brokers in these countries, meaning about $20 million US has found its way back to producers annually."Most of the documented hash importations have been with southwest Asian suppliers that have been in this business for 10 to 20 years," the RCMP report says. "It is likely that terrorist elements in Afghanistan tax producers, thereby receiving a portion of the potential proceeds."The report's release comes the same week the warship HMCS Toronto, part of the Canadian contingent in the armed campaign against terrorism, discovered a shipment of drugs aboard a fishing vessel off the coast of Pakistan.The narcotics, either opium or hashish, were found in plastic bags marked with the phrase Freedom of Afghanistan. The defence department said the seizure was under investigation, with coalition intelligence officials attempting to determine "possible links with al-Qaida or Taliban activities."U.S. President George W. Bush warned last December that "the traffic in drugs finances the work of terror" and implored Americans to shun illicit substances.The RCMP report, sensitive portions of which were withheld from release, notes narcotics have long been used by organized crime, extremist and terrorist groups as a means of generating revenue to support armed conflict.East Indian, Afghan, Pakistani, Tamil, Turkish and Middle Eastern extremist groups are "suspected of fund-raising in Canada by various means," the report adds.But the RCMP suggest further investigation is needed to confirm suspicions of Canadian links between terrorists and drug traffickers."The closer scrutiny being afforded presently to the terrorist issue could (help uncover) more concrete information as to the terrorist elements in Canada resorting to drug trafficking as a means to finance their activities." In addition to singling out southwest Asia, the Mounties point to South American drug shipments entering Canada as a potential source of terrorist funds. Up to 25 tonnes of cocaine, worth as much as $50 million US, arrive in Canada annually.South American insurgent groups are involved in coca production, or exert control over regions containing coca fields, laboratories and airstrips, the RCMP note. These groups impose taxes ranging from $100 US to $500 US per kilogram to protect the area.Note: RCMP believe extremists get millions from drugs.Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)Author: Jim Bronskill , Vancouver Sun Published: Saturday, February 16, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Vancouver SunContact: sunletters pacpress.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanada Not Ready for Legal Pot: Justice Minister http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12017.shtmlCanada Moves Toward Decriminalizing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9892.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on February 17, 2002 at 05:28:27 PT Prohibition remains the problem Not drugs.Nobody cares if we smoke pot, or some dumbass shoots up with heroin.Terrorists, foreign and domestic, are in this for the MONEY.MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. Its the only thing that matters.Prohibition inflates and supports the prices commodities bring, enforcement increases risk, which, in turn, increases profit.Team Bush is doing nothing but ensuring the drug trade remains lucrative for all involved. (Gotta make up them funds lost to Enron investments..wink)Asa Hutchinson went to San Francisco to threaten the nation and to help keep pot prices high.I cant wait for increased border security: All this will accomplish is to rid america of crappy mexican weed and stimulate a revolution in inside groeth and distribution. Instead of growing HALF our weed, we will grow almost all of our weed, futher removing cannabis from the insiuations that buying pot puts money in Bin LAdens hand.Wise up.Freedom Endures [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Jose Melendez on February 16, 2002 at 15:25:47 PT: know history, or repeat it The same thing happened in the Keys years ago. The Feds shut off US-Highway 1, and stopped to check everyone "for drugs". Key West tourism dried up, and they SECEDED FROM THE NATION! Of course, they surrendered peacefully and laid down their stale loaves of Cuban bread and tomatoes.Lo and behold, the blockade was lifted, and tourism thrives there once more... Now if Bud and Coke were illegal, who knows what would happen? I would love to hear Joyce Nalepka's take on THAT idea... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 16, 2002 at 10:52:55 PT An Idea They are saying that drugs fund terrorists. We need to know what else could possibly funds terrorists. Maybe some of you might look into infomation and post what you find when you find something important. We can be angry but we need to do something too. Just an idea. Check this article out. U.S. Places Mexican Resort Off-Limits Treasury Dept. Seeks to Isolate Businesses Said to Be Owned by Drug Dealers Source: Washington Post (DC) Author: Mary Jordan,Washington Post Foreign Service Published: Saturday, February 16, 2002; Page A20 Copyright: 2002 The Washington Post Company Contact: letterstoed washpost.com Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com ROSARITO, Mexico -- The Oasis Beach Resort and Convention Center in this coastal town south of Tijuana, usually crammed with Americans seeking sun, was nearly deserted this week, after a rare order by the U.S. government forbidding U.S. citizens from spending money here. Complete Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19114-2002Feb15.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Unknown Pleasures on February 16, 2002 at 10:33:37 PT My.... god..... This is sooooooooo sick. I dunno where to start. A good time with hash is funding terror????? What about the friggin' petrol in your friggin' SUV's?????...and why does Osama NOT make a dime off of the booming alcohol and tabacco industries???? all together now: BECAUSE IT'S A LEGAL MARKET!There is no Reason in our 'system', just different shades of madness. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Rainbow on February 16, 2002 at 09:42:36 PT Amazing I think we have been telling these jerks all along that it is big business that will not go away.Soooooooo legalize it and skim (taxes) on your own terrorist dollars. The AmeriKan government is great at terrorism and has to continually fight congress for more dollars why not do what senoir bush, Reagan, North and the CIA have done - sell marijuana and make some money.They are parroting back our arguements and we need to use their logic to make the point that prohibition will not work.But alas I am very discouraged and believe it is all for naught. The ruling class wants suffering and will continue it until something bad happens. I am building a bunker and underground shelter, fo food stocks. I already have 75 bottles of wine and will soon have enough beer. Now for the food in my garden this summer and next fall down a few deer I will be set up.Cheers Tom [ Post Comment ] Post Comment