Skip to content
Quick exit
  • Cymraeg
  • Reporting SARs
Leading the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our people
    • Our leadership
    • Governance and transparency
    • Inclusion, diversity and equality
    • Publications
  • What we do
    • What we investigate
    • Border vulnerabilities
    • Bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion
    • Cyber crime
    • Child sexual abuse and exploitation
    • Drug trafficking
    • Illegal firearms
    • Fraud
    • Kidnap and extortion
    • Modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Money laundering and illicit finance
    • Organised immigration crime
    • Operation Stovewood: Rotherham child sexual abuse investigation
    • How we work
    • Intelligence: enhancing the picture of serious organised crime affecting the UK
    • Investigating and disrupting the highest risk serious and organised criminals
    • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement
    • Supporting victims and survivors
  • News
    • All news
  • Careers
    • How to join the NCA
    • Applying and onboarding
    • Current vacancies
    • A day in the life
    • Benefits and support
  • Most Wanted
  • Contact us
    • Verify an NCA Officer
    • Complaints
  • Home >
  • What we do >
  • What we investigate >
  • Drug trafficking >
  • Chemical Suspicious Activity Reports

Share this page:

Share this page:

Chemical Suspicious Activity Reports

Chemical Suspicious Activity Reports (CSARs) are made by companies in the chemical or related industries and alert UK law enforcement to the potential purchase of chemicals to manufacture illegal drugs.

The Chemical Control Team within the NCA receive CSARs and disseminates the intelligence to the appropriate organisation to action. 

Reporting suspicious orders or enquiries

CSARs contribute intelligence to law enforcement operations, identify reckless or deliberate acts of chemical diversion and help initiate investigations into previously unknown criminals or organisations.

Any suspicious activity such as unusual orders or transactions which suggest that chemicals might be used to manufacture illegal drugs must be reported.

To make a CSAR please complete a chemical suspicious activity report form ( 92 KB ) and email it to our Chemical Control Team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please Note: the CSAR form is for use in the reporting of suspicious activity around chemicals and equipment only.

The team will acknowledge receipt of individual CSARs. In some instances a follow-up clarification call or email may be required. 

Confidentiality of CSARs

We take confidentiality extremely seriously and any communication with us will be secure. 

CSARs are confidential and the identity of the individual or organisation making a CSAR will not be disclosed to the subject of the report.

Chemical Liaison Officers

A number of police forces throughout the UK have Chemical Liaison Officers (CLO) working with industry to help prevent the diversion of chemicals and other substances into the illicit production of drugs. 

CLOs are in contact with local chemical companies and other suppliers to advise and raise awareness in regards to chemical precursor controls. 

If a CLO has not been in contact with your company and you wish to seek advice you can do so by obtaining a contact number from our Chemical Control Team by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Alternatively, ask for the CLO via your local police force headquarters switchboard. 

Please bear in mind that not all force areas have appointed a CLO. If your force area does not have a CLO and you wish to seek advice please contact our Chemical Control Team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Related publications

  • pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2021 Popular
  • pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2020 Popular
  • pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018 Popular
  • pdf County Lines Violence, Exploitation & Drug Supply 2017 Popular
  • pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2017 Popular
  • pdf Chemical suspicious activity report form Popular
  • pdf County Lines - Gang Violence Exploitation and Drug Supply 2016 Popular
  • pdf Recent Deaths Possibly Linked to Fentanyl Popular

Latest news on this threat

Cocaine seized

Port worker one of two men arrested over attempted drug importation

Two men, one of whom is a port worker, have been arrested by National Crime Agency officers investigating the attempted importation of cocaine with a potential street value of around £8 million.

20 January 2023
Cannabis seized at Heathrow airport

NCA issues warning after further arrests made from Los Angeles-London flights

National Crime Agency officers are issuing a warning to potential drug smugglers after a series of cannabis seizures were made from passengers flying from Los Angeles in the United States.

18 January 2023
Cannabis that has been seized

NCA investigates after series of smuggling attempts from Los Angeles

The National Crime Agency has begun an investigation after a series of drug seizures were made from passengers flying into Heathrow Airport from Los Angeles in the United States.

17 January 2023
All news

Share this page:

TOP ˄
0370 496 7622
NCA general enquiries or to verify an NCA officer, available 24/7
Click CEOP logo: Advice, Help, Report
  • Who we are

  • Our mission
  • What we do

  • How we investigate
  • How we work
  • News

  • Most wanted

  • Careers

  • A day in the life
  • Current vacancies
  • Contact us

  • Operation Stovewood
  • Suspicious activity reports
  • Verify an NCA officer
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Publications
  • Accessibility statement
© Crown Copyright
© Crown Copyright