Name  of Narcotic: Casanar

Planet of Origin: Unknown

Chemical Components: Unknown. Elements do not match known chemicals that can be found in the UFP.

Distributor: Hanei clan of the Wotou Pirate organization

In late 2405 a Starfleet Security raid on a known criminal transshipment point in the Alpha Centauri system yielded several pounds of a previously-unencountered narcotic. Identified as "casanar" to S.F.S. agents by civilians arrested at the scene, the chemical components of this narcotic were quickly found not to conform to any previously-encountered drug of this nature.

Subsequent raids on known production laboratories and drug-handlers throughout the Alpha Centauri system yielded far more of the narcotic. Subsequent high-level communications within the upper echelons of Starfleet Security led to a general bulletin to all facilities and bases, especially those along the Klingon border (where the largest amounts of the narcotic had been seized), directing that the drug was to be classified as a narcotic. In mid-2406 the Federation Council declared casanar to be an illegal controlled substance, and declared its use to be in violation of the law.

In late 2406 it became apparent that Starbase 672: Hephaestus had become a transshipment point for the narcotic (Starfleet Security later determined that this was most likely due to the overstretched security department). Several stationwide drug sweeps and a bolstered security contingent were successful in locating a drug-production laboratory that had been established aboard the facility, although much of the latest batch of the narcotic had been already moved off the facility. Several civilians arrested at the scene were later sentenced to consecutive life sentences in the New Stellarton Penal Colony.

There has been no further reports of casanar seizures aboard Starbase 672: Hephaestus, although sporadic amounts have been seized at other facilities. As of the time this report is filed, Starfleet Medical has been unable to devise a counteractive agent to combat the effects of the casanar drug.

The station medical department aboard Starbase 672: Hephaestus determined that casanar could be taken in two forms (a pill or through a hypospray) with the latter being the most-preferred means of ingestion. It was theorized though not directly observed that dependency would occur after 3 to 5 doses of 15mg each, which was considered to be the 'appropriate' size of a dose. Station medical staff concluded that any doses larger than 15mg would lead to seizures, and there would be no effect from a smaller dose.

More disturbingly, it was also concluded after direct examination of several afflicted persons found at the scene of the production laboratory that each use of the narcotic left a residual deposit in the central nervous system. Station medical concluded that after enough 'shots' of casanar, a dose would be sufficient to trigger a seizure that would break the average humanoid's spine.

The means of production of the casanar narcotic remains largely unknown, stymied by the chemical properties not being found within the Federation. From what little information could be gleaned from the production laboratory raid aboard Starbase 672: Hephaestus the amount of equipment required is relatively small, yet the production output with a trained operator is relatively high.

Starfleet Security originally concluded that casanar production would remain limited for the short- and long-term duration by the manpower-intensive nature of production, which is believed to require near-constant supervision. Judging by the escalating reports of seizures throughout the Federation however, it would appear that this conclusion was in error.