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OVER 65 ARRESTED IN INTERNATIONAL
METHAMPHETAMINE INVESTIGATION

Law Enforcement Officials Announce Victory From left to right: John Clark, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Raf Souccar, RCMP; David B. Palmer, IRS; and Roger Guevara, the Chief of Operations at the DEA.

APR 15--Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the arrests of over 65 individuals in ten cities throughout the United States and Canada. The arrests are the result of an 18-month international investigation targeting the illegal importation of pseudoephedrine, an essential chemical used in methamphetamine production.

This investigation, dubbed Operation Northern Star, employed a comprehensive top to bottom strategy targeting the entire methamphetamine trafficking process, including the suppliers of precursor chemicals, chemical brokers, transporters, manufacturers, distributors, and the money launderers who helped conceal their criminal proceeds. Arrests occurred in: Detroit; Chicago; Los Angeles; Riverside, California; New York; Cincinnati; Gulfport, Mississippi; Montreal; Quebec; Vancouver, British Colombia; and Ottawa, Ontario.

As part of this investigation, agents targeted 6 executives from 3 Canadian chemical companies: G.C. Medical Products, Formulex, and Frega, Inc. The executives arrested today have all sold bulk quantities of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine manufacturers in the United States. They did so with the full knowledge that their sales were intended for the illegal production of the highly addictive and dangerous drug methamphetamine.

"Methamphetamine is a devastating, addictive drug that destroys human dignity, tears apart families, and disrupts the peace and security of our communities," said Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff of the Criminal Division. "We believe that Operation Northern Star has disrupted a major pseudoephedrine pipeline from Canada and sent a clear message to pharmaceutical companies there and elsewhere that they will be held criminally responsible for dispensing their products in the United States for illegal use."

Roger Guevara, DEA's Chief of Operations, said, "Operation Northern Star sends a message to people at all stages of meth production that the community of nations is becoming far less tolerant of executives who are willing to destroy other people's lives so they can line their own pockets."

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Video clips:
   - RCMP Superintendent, Raf Souccar
   - DEA Chief of Operations, Roger Guevara
   - Transcript for both

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Map showing locations of Operation Northern Star enforcement activities. click image for full-size map

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Links to other participating agencies:

• Cyprus National Police
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• National Drug Intelligence Center
• Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)

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HBO's new documentary, Crank: Made in America, takes an up-close look at three Iowa families whose lives have been decimated by crank addiction. Their stories are framed by interviews from law-enforcement officials and medical experts, who explain the historical origins and uses of methamphetamine. DEA had significant input during the production of the documentary. Former Administrator Asa Hutchinson appears in the film as do other DEA employees.

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