Ottawa to look into pill press controls

HALIFAX — A call by police chiefs for Ottawa to closely vet people who import pill presses that may be used to encapsulate opioids will be carefully considered by federal officials, the minister of organized crime reduction said Wednesday.

Bill Blair, who is also the minister of border security, made the comments in Halifax, as the former police chief told the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police he sees his recent appointment to as an acknowledgment that Ottawa is willing to listen to the concerns of law enforcement.

Police say raids of drug labs have shown that presses, encapsulators, stamps and dyes are widely used in producing counterfeit pills.

In a resolution passed earlier this week, the association said the federal government did not go far enough when it introduced changes that made it illegal to import unregistered presses.

The resolution calls for comprehensive scrutiny of people and businesses importing pill presses and encapsulators, including a requirement to spell out the equipment’s intended use. The chiefs also want controls over domestic sales of imported presses.

The association said the illicit use of presses has helped increase the supply of street drugs containing synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, contributing to a crisis of overdose deaths.

Blair said the government takes the advice of the police chiefs very seriously, and is willing to look at all measures that could reduce harm caused by opioids.

“Let me assure the police chiefs — we are quite prepared to look at any measure,” said Blair.

“I want to assure you all — we’re listening,” he told a ballroom filled with people.

“The job I have been given is to not just bring my experience into government, but to bring yours. Not just my voice, but your voice.”