Germany- National Approach on Materials and Equipment Used in Illicit Drug Manufacture
In Germany, there are no specific regulations or restrictions related to the trade in equipment, such as pill / tablet presses, encapsulators, heating mantles or glassware. Nevertheless, if a person sells or provides such equipment with the knowledge and intent that it is used for the illicit production of drugs, the person could be punished for aiding and abetting the illicit production of drugs, based on the national penal code and the national narcotics act.
Additionally, based on article 13 of the 1988 United Nations Convention, European Union regulations and the National Program on Drug Abuse Control, Germany has pursued the concept of voluntary cooperation between authorities and selected companies since the end of the 1990ies. The measures conducted mainly by the Federal Criminal Police Office (Synthetic Drugs Unit) cover especially companies who produce or trade in tableting machines/pill presses, punches/dies, heating mantles and large round bottom glass flasks. A special focus is on second-hand traders of such equipment.
The representatives of the companies are informed and sensitized about the fact that the equipment which they produce or sell could also be used in an illegal manner. The companies are requested to cooperate with the police and give hints on suspicious orders of such equipment. To assist the companies in identifying suspicious orders, examples (suspicion criteria) of behavioural patterns of people who intend to use such equipment illicitly were shared with them. Companies also cooperate in backtracking investigations into seized equipment.