50-tonnes 'safrole' to be destroyed for first time in Thailand

BANGKOK, Sept 10 - Around 50 tonnes of 'safrole', or sassafras oil, the substance used as a principle component for 'ecstasy' or 'E' production, will be destroyed for the first time in Thailand on Monday, according to Justice Minister Peerapan Saleeratwipak.

The burning of the sassafras oil will be carried out cooperatively by the Narcotics Control Board Office, the Thai Customs Department, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at Bangpoo Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan province.

Mr Peerapan said the substance was seized in October 2007 at Chonburi province's Laem Chabang Port, hidden in three containers and was being illegally shipped, two to China and the other to the United States.

Thailand's Criminal Court ruled in February that the 'safrole' must be legally seized and processed according to public health regulations. Such substances are thus to be destroyed by fire due to abundant quantity and as a prevention from being used illegally.

The method of burning safrole on Monday will apply the 'co-current rotary furnace' technique, which is pollution-free and environmentally friendly, the justice minister said.

Thailand's drug laws and regulations indicate that producing, importing, exporting or possessing safrole must be approved by the FDA. Illegal possession of the substance can result in imprisonment of 1-10 years and a fine of Bt20,000-200,000 (about US$650-6,500), while possessing over 10 kilos of safrole is ground for 1-15 years prison and a fine of Bt100,000-1.5 million (US$3,000-50,000).

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the illegal production of safrole was done in Cambodia in 2006. The substance was extracted from plants called 'Dysoxylum loureiri' and distilled in the form of oil. From Cambodia, safrole was smuggled through Vietnam for a third country.

In 1999, Vietnam banned safrole production due to environmental concerns, but it allows the legal import and export of the substance.

Illegal safrole producers in Cambodia later used Thailand as a channel to smuggle the substance to a third country by using false declaration at customs that it was another type of oil.

-- TNA 2010-09-10

Can we get downwind of the fire?

sassafras

Isn't that what Muttley used to say in " Dastardly And Muttley In Their Flying Machines"?

is ita cholesterol-friendly oil ?

sassafras

Isn't that what Muttley used to say in " Dastardly And Muttley In Their Flying Machines"?

"sassafrassarassum"

Just curious. Sized in 2007, how much left of it ?

Mix 1% with diesel to make safro-diesel B1? It will keep the truck driver happy.

or

Mix 1% with petrol to make safrohol E1? to keep the motorcycle taxi high/

sassafras

Isn't that what Muttley used to say in " Dastardly And Muttley In Their Flying Machines"?

"sassafrassarassum"

Ahh... I see. Cheers.

sassafras

Isn't that what Muttley used to say in " Dastardly And Muttley In Their Flying Machines"?

"sassafrassarassum"

And of course! Medal, Medal, Medal!!!!

Mix 1% with diesel to make safro-diesel B1? It will keep the truck driver happy.

or

Mix 1% with petrol to make safrohol E1? to keep the motorcycle taxi high/

Nobody is getting high from safrole, it still needs to undergo a number of chemical changes before it becomes ecstacy.

I thought MDMA was the main ingredient of ecstasy?????

I thought MDMA was the main ingredient of ecstasy?????

MDMA, 3-4-methylenedioxy-methylphenethylamine, is ecstasy. Safrole is one of the precursors that can be used to make it.

Mix 1% with diesel to make safro-diesel B1? It will keep the truck driver happy.

or

Mix 1% with petrol to make safrohol E1? to keep the motorcycle taxi high/

Or put in Red Bull/M150 bottles with either of the above mixed substance and Reds have a Sassafrass Cocktail

Can we get downwind of the fire?

The precious oil has probably long been sold and substituted with something else like motor oil or soy sauce.

is ita cholesterol-friendly oil ?

Safrole has been used in food but has since been found to be mildly carcinogenic.