TNAG-0414-FCO40-460-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 192

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JAPAN

Japan does not produce opium or its derivatives, except for a small, controlled quantity for experimental purposes. Moreover, in contrast to the Southeast Asian countries and Hong Kong, Japan does not have an extensive addiction problem within its population. However, Japan does play a role in the international traffic in narcotics and, as such, has an effect on the flow of narcotics to Americans in Japan and in the United States. As a major world producer of chemicals, it is also a primary source of chemicals required to produce heroin in Golden Triangle refineries, particularly acetic anhydride. The large U.S. military and dependent population in Japan is vulnerable to drug traffic incountry and as a major crossroads in the Far East, its sea- ports and airports provide a potential conduit through which drugs can be routed to the United States.

ACETIC ANHYDRIDE

Acetylation is the key process in converting morphine base to heroin and can be accomplished by using either acetyl chloride or acetic anhydride. Acetyl chloride is flammable, irritating to the eyes, reacts violently with water or alcohol, and requires careful handling in laboratory processes. Although acetic anhydride is corrosive and re- quires care in handling, it is less hazardous to the user than acetyl chloride and hence is the key chemical used in illicit processing.

Enormous quantities of acetic anhydride are produced annually in the world's industrial countries. U.S. output alone was on the order of 700,000 tons in 1971, with comparable amounts produced in Western Europe and Japan. In the case of Japan, who is the prime supplier of acetic anhydride to Golden Triangle heroin laboratories, there are no Government controls over the production and exportation of the chemical.

Acetic anhydride is relatively inexpensive. Recent prices range from 21 cents per kilogram in the United States, to 26 cents in France, to 39 cents in Japan. Between 80 and 90 percent of the world output is used to manufacture synthetic fibers, with the remainder going to pharmaceutical use (primarily the manufacture of aspirin) and other uses (plastics, perfumes, flavoring materials, and dyestuffs). As a gen- eral rule, the production of one kilogram of heroin requires one kilo- gram of acetic anhydride. Given the chemical's abundance and cheap- ness, both the quantity and value of acetic anhydride used in illicit narcotic production is miniscule. These factors make government moni- toring and control of acetic anhydride production and distribution difficult in industrialized countries such as Japan. However, such monitoring is simpler to accomplish in Laos and Thailand where the chemical must be imported.

Nevertheless, given Japan's role as a primary producer of acetic anhydride for Southeast Asia's heroin laboratories, the U.S. Govern- ment should request the Government of Japan to adopt procedures to identify producers, exporters, and purchasers of this vital chemical.