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