Pubdate: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Jeff Labine Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/doda (doda) Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/poppy (poppy) COUNCILLOR, POLICE FIGHT SALE OF DODA Poppy Derivative Has Addictive Properties There is very little meat at Raj Meat Shop, a grimy store tucked among other grimy shops and massage parlours in a strip mall on Kennedy Road in Brampton. Several selections of colourful meat sit among otherwise empty display cases, but behind the cash register, where a single employee avoids a reporter's questions with a mumble, the walls are barren. According to Peel Regional Police, the store, along with five other meat and flower shops in Brampton, were actually in the business of selling doda, a dark powder made of ground poppy pods and used to brew a powerful opium tea. In late March, police executed a series of search warrants and charged 22 people with various trafficking offences. Police seized 432.5 kilograms of suspected doda and 256 boxes of opium poppy heads, valued at more than $1.7-million. Around the corner, six people were arrested at Brampton Advanced Dry Flowers and charged with trafficking and possession of doda. The store now appears empty, the doors locked and lights off, during normal business hours. When telephoned, there is no response. "A lot of these guys are running under the guise of dried-flower stores, but you go into these stores and they have nothing in them, nothing other than doda, nothing other than dried poppies," said Constable Mark Haywood, the officer in charge of Peel's investigation. "Yes, the flower is used in flower arrangements, but you have to use your common sense on it. If you've got a meat shop that has 10 breast of chicken and their main source of income is selling doda, what right do they have to have 150 boxes of poppy heads?" Suburban Peel Region, with its large population of South Asian immigrants, is now an unlikely ground zero for an emerging battle against an ancient old-world drug. There have been two crackdowns in Peel, which targeted doda more aggressively under pressure from Brampton Councillor Vicky Dhillon, who heard about the addictive drug from his teenage children and decided it was becoming a big problem. "I heard their stories how the kids go to the meat shops and buy $10 drugs together and divide it up," Mr. Dhillon said. "I got phone calls from their moms who heard I was fighting [doda] and I talked to their kids, one 17 years old, one 18 years old, and they are totally addicted. They said they couldn't quit until they are not selling [it] on the streets. It is a cheap drug. They quit school and don't go to work and they stay home, dependent on this drug. That is why it was very important that someone step forward in order to stop it." The use of opium tea has been popular for hundreds of years. Truck drivers and taxi drivers have been said to use doda to keep themselves awake and focused, although this goes against what Peel police believe the drug typically does. The effects of doda range from calmness and relaxation to sleeplessness, lethargy, itching, slowed breathing and nausea. High enough doses can lead to death. Opium poppies are illegal under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, but poppy seeds are not inherently illegal. The Act states any derivative of the poppy flower is also illegal, including the poppy pods used in doda. However, certain types of poppy pods -- including most of those from Arizona--have a limited amount of opiates in them, which would make them legal. Furthermore, dried poppy pods can be used in floral arrangements. Doda users can simply buy the pods in a flower shop, grind them down and drink them in a tea. "Right now, the South Asian community is addicting more and more. They are the only ones to know about this drug," Mr. Dhillon said, noting Canadian authorities have been slow to respond. "I talked to Health Canada and they said it was not illegal, it is just a flower. They talk to doctors, they said it is drug." Peel police say the battle against doda has been a learning experience, both for them and for Health Canada, which tests seized materials for levels of opiates. Const. Haywood said the first samples sent to Health Canada weren't sufficient, but Peel increased the quantity of the sample and eventually Health Canada confirmed it contained codeine and morphine, two main ingredients of opium. "When we first started doing this, there were issues with ... Health Canada. We basically had to educate them and went and spoke with one of the head guys from Health Canada," Const. Haywood said. "Since it happened, of course we got calls all across Canada regarding what it is, what they can expect out there and what they can do to prosecute." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom