South Asian Drug on Ontario Law Enforcement's Radar

UNCLAS TORONTO 000042 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/LP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM CA SUBJECT: South Asian Drug on Ontario Law Enforcement's Radar ¶1. (U) Summary: Local authorities have begun to see an increasing number of cases involving doda, an opium-related drug popular in the local South Asian immigrant community. The drug's relative low cost and easy availability (the drug is made from the same poppy flowers used by florists) have added to its popularity. Although local authorities have been aware of doda for some time, a lack of information about the drug's content limited their actions. Recent analysis released by Health Canada, however, indicates doda contains substances prohibited under Canada's Controlled Substance Act. As a result of these findings, we are likely to see more publicity about doda and more doda-related arrests in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). End Summary. -------------- CULTURALLY ENTRENCHED, DODA UNDER THE RADAR UNTIL RECENTLY -------------- ¶2. (U) Traditionally used in South Asian communities in the Toronto Area, Doda (sometimes spelled dode) is a powder made by grinding the husk and seeds of the poppy flower. Doda is taken with tea or water and produces a quick high, followed by a sense of calm or well-being. However, the drug can become addictive and, in large amounts can lead to an overdose. Unlike khat, a comparable drug popular with East African and Middle Eastern users, doda retains its potency for several days and has a long shelf life. Doda is mostly used by men in long-shift jobs such as truck drivers, taxi drivers, and factory workers, to help them stay awake. ¶3. (U) Despite the drug's reported popularity in the GTA for several years, until recently, police have not been able to make arrests for doda use because there has been little information about the drug's content. Prompted by a high-profile arrest in late 2008 when police seized more than 38 kilograms of doda with a street value of C$68,000, Health Canada analyzed the opiate content in doda. Health Canada's analysis showed doda contains codeine and morphine, which are prohibited under Schedule I of Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The agency's findings have taken doda out of its previous legal grey area. (Note: Under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, the powder would be considered a Schedule II drug.) -------------- CHEAP AND EASY TO FIND, POPULARITY IS INCREASING -------------- ¶4. (U) Doda powder is easily available for as little as C$1 per gram in flea markets, small grocery stores, and meat shops in South Asian neighborhoods. Some users reportedly spend C$10-$40 per day on doda. Some reports have indicated that the drug sellers rely on sources of poppy flowers imported from the U.S., as well as from other countries. Arizona apparently is a prime U.S. source area, where the flower grows in the wild and is available through online retailers. ¶5. (U) There is a growing concern that teenagers are mixing doda with other drugs, creating a volatile mix. During his three years on the Brampton, Ontario city council, Vicky Dhillon, a member of the South Asian community, has been a long-time advocate of banning doda. In his campaign against the drug, he refers to the damage he has seen the drug cause to his community, as well as the evidence that the drug is spreading to the local high schools. ¶6. (U) Comment: At present, doda is most popular in the immigrant South Asian communities of Toronto. Until recently it was readily available in corner shops throughout the GTA. However, a high profile arrest and Canadian government analysis have put a spotlight on the drug, but it is not yet clear how this recent attention has affected the availability of the drug. With the new information about the narcotic content of doda, we expect to see and hear more about this drug and about doda-related arrests both within and outside the South Asian community. NAY