Opium poppy-derived 'doda' drug making inroads in Alberta

[BlackDragon]

Opium poppy-derived 'doda' drug making inroads in Alberta

By Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary HeraldNovember 16, 2009 - The Vancouver Sun

U.S. Marines patrol a village in front of a poppy field in Afghanistan in this April 30, 2009, file photo. Canada's border police have made two massive recent seizures of 'doda' — a close cousin to opium and a highly addictive brew made from the dried seeds and husks of the opium poppy — in southern Alberta.

Photograph by: Goran Tomasevic, Reuters

CALGARY — It's a close cousin to opium — a highly addictive brew made from the dried seeds and husks of the opium poppy that produces a sustained feeling of bliss.

It's called doda — a "new trend in opium consumption," according to the RCMP — and it's got police and politicians very worried.

Canada's border police have made two massive recent seizures of the exotic drug in southern Alberta. One Alberta politician says he's seeing families in Calgary's South Asian population torn apart by the drug.

"I have seen families ruined by this," said Darshan Kang, who represents the northeast riding of Calgary-McCall. "Those people, they will spend all their money on this."

Doda is typically brewed up as a tea, providing an addictive high that breaks the monotony of repetitive work and helps people get through long hours on the job, say those who've seen the effects of the drug.

Community leaders, police and politicians in Calgary are increasingly worried about the growing popularity of doda among some members of the South Asian community who work as cleaners, cabbies and truck drivers.

"Sure, they think they are working longer hours, they are trying to put the bread and butter on the table," said Kang. "But once they get addicted to this, just to feed their addiction alone, they won't be doing anybody any good."

On Sept. 22, Canada Border Services Agency officers inspected a commercial container declared as "dried grasses." Inside, officers found 12 skids containing 2,700 kilograms of dried poppy pods worth an estimated $5.45 million.

The next day, CBSA officers became suspicious when a second commercial container declared as "dried flowers" was awaiting clearance for entry into Canada. Officers found 26 skids totalling more than 4,500 kilograms of dried poppy pods with an estimated street value of more than $9 million.

According to the CBSA, the pods are typically turned into doda.

In August, Edmonton police seized more than 70 kilograms of dried opium poppy heads and charged one man with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The drug typically has been peddled in small grocery stores, flower shops and at flea markets in Calgary, according to police.

Sgt. Darren Cave with the Calgary police drug unit said the brown-greyish powder sells for around $10 for 10 grams and brings a quick rush of euphoria, followed by a longer state of calm.

Doda is beginning to surface in other areas of the country as well, and the RCMP stresses that anything containing opium is banned in Canada.

"(In Canada) doda is most commonly found in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia," the RCMP said in a statement Monday.

"The limited exposure of Canadians to opium powder, and the lack of mainstream information about the drug, has led to some confusion over its legality. All substances containing opium, its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids and salts are prohibited under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act."

Doda is still quite new on the Calgary horizon, emerging in just the past few years.

But as the substance is sold and users become addicted, there is a fear that if doda is not curbed in this city, it will go the way of street drugs, attracting crime and gang involvement.

Calgary police are preparing a plan to fight the drug before it sinks its roots any deeper in the city's criminal subculture. Within four to six months officers will be trained to identify the substance, said Cave.

A public awareness effort will warn people the drug is illegal and police will enforce the law.

"If it's being sold and there are quantities now starting to come into our country, there's going to be a profit margin," Cave said. "Once you start getting into money, organized crime becomes involved and if organized crime becomes involved, there will always be that potential for violence."

The drug can take a significant toll on users and their families, said Balwinder Singh Kahlon, a founder of Drug Awareness Foundation Calgary, an anti-drug group.

Every few days, Kahlon says he gets a call from the family of someone hooked on doda. He recently heard of a person who went from spending $300 to $1,200 a month on the drug.

"The first time they take (doda), it will increase their working ability," said Kahlon. "When they start using it . . . and next day they need more, next day they need more. Then they become addicted to it. It's an addictive drug."

With the recent law enforcement, the sale of doda may not be as open as it was just a few months ago in Calgary, said one community leader.

"It has gone underground, but I'm sure it's there," said Gurinder Singh, a director with Radio Sursangam in Calgary.