Chemical Program > Advisories to the Public > Thefts of Regulated Drug Products That Contain Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine Are Increasing

Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are highly coveted by drug traffickers who use these chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine for the illicit market. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is receiving reports of thefts and unexplained losses of large quantities of these substances from distributors.

To prevent thefts, DEA strongly suggests that List I chemical handlers follow these guidelines:

• Maintain a system to control your inventory and monitor for unexplained losses or disappearances
   

• Prevent employee theft by requiring employee background checks and drug testing. In addition, DEA registrants must follow the guidance of U.S. Code of Federal Regulations 21 §1309.72 in regard to employing persons with drug felony convictions and possibly limiting their access to List I chemicals.
   

• Improve physical security with anti-theft measures such as maintaining stock in a segregated area, limiting employee access to stock, and operating surveillance cameras.

In the event of theft, DEA reminds List I chemical handlers of the regulatory requirement:

• A regulated chemical handler must immediately report thefts and losses to the nearest DEA office and should also notify state/local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. A written report must be submitted to DEA within15 days of discovery of the theft or loss. (CFR 21 §1310.05)

To prevent recurring thefts, DEA recommends the following:

• List I chemical handlers should treat an individual theft or significant loss seriously and should monitor occurrences so that patterns do not remain undetected.
   

• When improving security after a theft, extend security improvements to all locations which store or distribute listed drug products.
   

• The repeated loss of small quantities of listed chemicals over a period of time may indicate a significant aggregate problem that must be reported to DEA, even though the individual quantity of each occurrence does not appear to be significant.

In an environment in which traffickers are aggressively seeking pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, List I chemical handlers should view unexplained losses as likely thefts. DEA registrants must provide effective controls and procedures to guard against theft and diversion of these List I chemicals. A chemical handler who experiences thefts and/or losses must take special action. Continuing to rely on a system that has been violated is not providing effective controls.