illicit drug trafficking in central asia presentation by kairat osmonaliev phd in jurisprudence
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Illicit Drug Trafficking in Central Asia
Presentation by Kairat OsmonalievPhD in Jurisprudence
General InformationGeneral Information
All countries of Central Asia have became transit All countries of Central Asia have became transit countries for Afghan drugscountries for Afghan drugs
Climatic conditions in Central Asian countries are, in Climatic conditions in Central Asian countries are, in principle, favorable for the growth of opium poppy principle, favorable for the growth of opium poppy which are illicitly cultivated on small individual plots. which are illicitly cultivated on small individual plots. Kyrgyzstan, for instance, prior to 1974 was one of the Kyrgyzstan, for instance, prior to 1974 was one of the world’s largest suppliers of licit opium. There are world’s largest suppliers of licit opium. There are also huge stocks of wild growing cannabisalso huge stocks of wild growing cannabis
Wild Growth of Narcotic Crops Wild Growth of Narcotic Crops in Central Asiain Central Asia
Wild growth of cannabis is mainly concentrated to Wild growth of cannabis is mainly concentrated to Kazakhstan and the rest in Kyrgyzstan. The area of Kazakhstan and the rest in Kyrgyzstan. The area of wild growth of cannabis in Kazakhstan covers more wild growth of cannabis in Kazakhstan covers more than 140,000 hathan 140,000 ha
There is an extensive growth of ephedra, the main There is an extensive growth of ephedra, the main precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and methcathinone. Some 88,200 ha of ephedra were methcathinone. Some 88,200 ha of ephedra were identified in Kazakhstan, 46,400 ha - in Kyrgyzstan, identified in Kazakhstan, 46,400 ha - in Kyrgyzstan, and 3,500 ha - in Tajikistan.and 3,500 ha - in Tajikistan.
Drug RoutesDrug Routes of Afghan Drugs of Afghan Drugs
There are three main routes for transportation of There are three main routes for transportation of drugs from Afghanistan:drugs from Afghanistan:
““Southern route” passes through the territory of Southern route” passes through the territory of Pakistan (around 40 % of Afghan drugs) Pakistan (around 40 % of Afghan drugs)
““Western Route” goes from Iran to Turkey and Western Route” goes from Iran to Turkey and then to Western Europe (“Balkan Route”) – 35 %then to Western Europe (“Balkan Route”) – 35 %
““Northern Route” (or “Silk Route”) through Northern Route” (or “Silk Route”) through countries of Central Asian region to Russia and countries of Central Asian region to Russia and then to Europe– 25 % (15 % through then to Europe– 25 % (15 % through Turkmenistan). Turkmenistan).
Factors Enhancing the Role of the Factors Enhancing the Role of the ««NorthernNorthern»» Route in Afghan Illicit Drug TraffickingRoute in Afghan Illicit Drug Trafficking
- New international geopolitical and geo-economic situation in the region of Central Asia - Weakening of state drug control system in Central Asian countries- Active and hard-edged struggle of Iran against drug trafficking («Balkan» route is becoming more dangerous for drug traffickers)
Factors Enhancing the Role of the Factors Enhancing the Role of the ««NorthernNorthern»» Route in Afghan Illicit Drug Trafficking Route in Afghan Illicit Drug Trafficking
((contdcontd))
Increase of corruption as the main element of illicit drug trafficking
Involvement of Islamic extremists in drug trafficking activities
Integration of organized criminal groups dealing with illicit drug trafficking into international criminal system in Central Asia
Huge local stocks of narcotics
Main Main DDrug rug TTrafficking rafficking RRoutesoutes
…to Europe…to Europe
HeroinHeroin Routes Routes
from Afghanistan…
Kyrgyzstan: Routes and Opiates Prices
5,800$
5,000$
10,000$
1,500$
1,300$
Opiates seizures in Kyrgyzstan (kg heroin equiv.)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Drug Seizures in Central AsiaDrug Seizures in Central Asia
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
seiz
ures
in k
g.
Opi
um Her
oin
Drug Seizures for the first half of 2002 and 2003
Opium 0,21 2,36 96,21 37,81 597,9 746
Heroin 80,11 150,95 145,51 49,79 1643,52 3633,86
2002Kazakhstan
2003 2002Kyrgyzstan
2003 2002Tajikistan
2003
Proportion of Seized Drugs Proportion of Seized Drugs inin TajikistanTajikistan
(1996-2003)(1996-2003)
88
3405
6,4
966,3
3455,5
60
1049,8
1190,4
271,5
560
1269,3
708,8
430
4778,5
1882,9
750,5
3664,3
4239
999
1624
3958,2
941,5
759,7
3766,7
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 7 months2003
Сannabis Raw-opium Heroin
Seizures of Opiates in Central AsiaSeizures of Opiates in Central Asia
2000
59%
41%
2001
85%
15%
Republic of Tajikistan
Other Central Asian States
2002
86%
14%
Seized Heroin and Opium
Legal Framework and Mechanisms of Cooperation Legal Framework and Mechanisms of Cooperation in Central Asiain Central Asia
All countries of the region signed Memorandum on All countries of the region signed Memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation in the sphere mutual understanding and cooperation in the sphere of drug control in 1996of drug control in 1996
Corresponding Agreement on cooperation in the Corresponding Agreement on cooperation in the sphere of drug counteraction is in effect among sphere of drug counteraction is in effect among Central Asia countries since 1999Central Asia countries since 1999
International State Commission on Drug Control in International State Commission on Drug Control in Central Asia Community was established in 1999Central Asia Community was established in 1999
Cooperation of Law Enforcement Agencies of Cooperation of Law Enforcement Agencies of Central Asia in Suppression Central Asia in Suppression
of Illicit Drug Traffickingof Illicit Drug Trafficking
Interaction between law-enforcement agencies of CA Interaction between law-enforcement agencies of CA countries is improving (transborder cooperation countries is improving (transborder cooperation mechanisms are being developed, controlled mechanisms are being developed, controlled deliveries are being conducted, joint special deliveries are being conducted, joint special operations on drug trafficking interception are being operations on drug trafficking interception are being fulfilled)fulfilled)
Low level of the existing interaction (non-operational Low level of the existing interaction (non-operational system of drug liaison officers, inactive and formal system of drug liaison officers, inactive and formal exchange of information)exchange of information)
Role of the International Organizations in the Role of the International Organizations in the Counteraction to Drug Trafficking in Counteraction to Drug Trafficking in
Central AsiaCentral Asia
Establishment of the “Security Belt” around Establishment of the “Security Belt” around Afghanistan by efforts of the Afghanistan by efforts of the United Nations United Nations Office on Drugs and CrimeOffice on Drugs and Crime (establishment of the (establishment of the Drug Control Agency in Tajikistan in 1999, the Drug Control Agency in Tajikistan in 1999, the Drug Control Agency in Kyrgyzstan in 2003), Drug Control Agency in Kyrgyzstan in 2003), Implementations of Regional UN ODC Projects on Implementations of Regional UN ODC Projects on strengthening control of drugs and precursors strengthening control of drugs and precursors circulationcirculation
Implementation of projects funded by Implementation of projects funded by EU EU CommissionCommission (CADAP, NADIN) (CADAP, NADIN)
ConclusionsConclusions
Illicit drug trafficking is one of the main threats to Illicit drug trafficking is one of the main threats to stability, democracy, security and development of stability, democracy, security and development of newly established countries of Central Asia that have newly established countries of Central Asia that have limited resources to fight drug tradelimited resources to fight drug trade
Strengthening democratic state power in Afghanistan Strengthening democratic state power in Afghanistan should help solve problem of eliminating illicit drug should help solve problem of eliminating illicit drug cultivation cultivation
International cooperation is an important condition International cooperation is an important condition for successful suppression of drug trafficking in for successful suppression of drug trafficking in Central Asia, including involving Turkmenistan in Central Asia, including involving Turkmenistan in active anti-drug cooperationactive anti-drug cooperation