Suspicious Cold Medicine Purchases Lead to Arrests

Suspicious Cold Medicine Purchases Lead to Arrests

STOCKTON, CA - A regional drug task force was busy Friday afternoon in Stockton arresting a half dozen people for what police call "smurfing."

The term describes customers buying up as much ephedrine as possible, visiting dozens of pharmacies in a single day.

Ephedrine is a key ingredient in cold medications that is also used in the production of methamphetamine. That's why there are legal limits on how much can be legally purchased.

The people arrested Friday are accused of using fake identifications to buy up far more of the drug than allowed.

Police began investigating the Stockton individuals a few weeks ago after getting a tip from a pharmacist. Members of the Amador County Combined Narcotic Enforcement Team watched as the individuals moved from one pharmacy to another purchasing the medication.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=53721&catid=2

they KNOW how much of their drugs are used in meth making. But do they willingly forgo sales to help out the authorities? of course not.
They could try to formulate a substance that would work as well as ephedrine, but chemically could not be used for manufacture.

but no. the profits are too big.

The reformulated (buy without the 2nd degree at the pharmacy) versions dont work half as well.

I tried to avoid buying sudafed for a while, but my sinuses wouldn't cooperate. C'est la guerre.

Prohibition has never workd. If you don't want people cooking meth, legalize or decriminalize the les harmful drugs.