1998 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
United States Department of State
February 26, 1999

GREECE

I. Summary

Greece is not a major drug producing country, but a "gateway" country. Narcotics flow into Western Europe both through Greece's porous marine borders and through land borders with neighboring countries. Heroin and hashish transit from Turkey while cannabis and other drugs transit from Albania, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Greek authorities report that drug abuse, particularly of heroin, is increasing.

Local U.S. officials report an excellent working relationship with Greek enforcement agencies. Greece is an active member of international anti-drug organizations such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Dublin Group, where it chairs the Balkans/Near East regional working group. A National Narcotics Coordinator serves as liaison to the European Union. Greece is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, and adheres to the goals and principles of the Convention.

II. Status of Country

The combined factors of membership in the European Union, an extensive coastline, numerous islands and one of the world's largest merchant marine fleets make Greece an obvious route for drug transshipment from the Balkans and points east to Western Europe. Two major Balkan drug routes pass through Greece. from Turkey through Greece and Albania to Italy, and from Turkey through Greece to Bulgaria and on to Central and Western Europe.

As the southeastern-most member of the European Union, Greece is a convenient gateway and transshipment route for drug traffickers. Traffickers move heroin from Turkey, hashish from the Middle East, and heroin, ecstasy and marijuana from South Asia to the rest of Western Europe. Marijuana and other drugs are smuggled across Greece's borders from Albania, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Marijuana is smuggled into Greece on pack mules across the mountainous border with Albania. Hashish is smuggled into Greece through various modes of transportation. by boat, on bonded "TIR" trucks, in automobiles, on trains and in buses. Although most of the drugs are destined for Western Europe, a small portion is smuggled to the US, including Turkish heroin that is traded for Latin American cocaine. Nigerian traffickers smuggle heroin and cocaine through the Athens airport, and increasingly through the Aegean islands from Turkey. Anabolic steroids are not a controlled substance in Greece. In 1996, police uncovered an illegal operation that sold the steroids by mail to purchasers in the US.

Cannabis, cultivated in small amounts for local consumption, is the only illicit drug produced in Greece. While not a major producer, supplier or transshipment point for precursor chemicals, Greece has a special customs unit that tracks and investigates chemical imports and exports.

Although still comparatively small, the domestic market for drugs (particularly heroin) has grown in recent years. A study released this year by the University of Athens found that the use of narcotics has tripled in the last fifteen years. The president of the Ministry of Health's demand reduction agency, OKANA, estimates that almost 40,000 people in Greece use heroin on a regular basis. In addition to heroin, cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, barbiturates, amphetamines, and locally grown marijuana are also used. OKANA opened two new facilities for methadone treatment in 1998, bringing the total number of such centers in Greece to four. OKANA treats approximately 750 addicts at these centers and works with NGO's devoted to narcotics treatment and prevention. In addition to running treatment centers for substance abusers, OKANA develops information campaigns and prevention programs. KYTHEA, which has received USG assistance, is a drug rehabilitation NGO that organizes narcotics education, prevention and rehabilitation programs.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1998

Policy Initiatives. An interministerial Financial Intelligence Unit began operating in January of 1997. The Ministry of Justice developed a new prison/treatment facility located in Avlona. The facility, not yet staffed, will be devoted entirely to prisoners who are also addicts.

Accomplishments. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Unit (SDOE) of the Ministry of Finance, activated in 1997, participated in a number of narcotics interception operations. In November, 1998 SDOE officers uncovered 56 pounds of heroin aboard a cruise ship in Piraeus. As well, the Coast Guard seized 189 kilograms of cocaine and was responsible for the capture of a major drug trafficker.

Law Enforcement Efforts. The Central Narcotics Council, composed of representatives from the Ministries of Public Order, Finance and Merchant Marine, coordinates the Government's drug enforcement activities. Cooperation between U.S. and Greek law enforcement officials is excellent; the Government actively facilitates USG requests for legal assistance. Greek laws permit the seizure of assets related to drug convictions. There is no legal provision for the sharing of seized assets with other countries.

In the first nine months of 1998, Greek authorities seized 280 kilograms of cocaine and 158 kilograms of heroin, and made 8,399 drug-related arrests.

The Government's ability to devote sufficient resources to anti-narcotics training and updating of equipment is limited by a tight budget. Resources exist, when needed, to deal with emergency situations.

Corruption. Some Greek officials have conceded that corruption within the police force is a problem, spurred by several highly publicized incidents (not narcotics-related) that prompted an investigation of corruption within the police force. The investigation was still underway at the end of 1998. The Ministry of Public Order renewed its commitment to open a Bureau of Internal Affairs to combat the problem. A billion drachma (approximately $357 million) package is being developed to train police and deter corruption. Local U.S. officials have no reports of corruption within the narcotics department of the police force.

Agreements and Treaties. Greece ratified the 1988 UN Drug Convention in 1992, and takes its obligations seriously to meet the Convention's goals and objectives relating to drug cultivation, distribution, sale, transport, law enforcement, transit cooperation, and demand reduction. Greece also passed implementing legislation for essential and precursor chemical controls. The Greek and USG exchange information on narcotics trafficking based on an agreement in force since 1928. An extradition treaty has been in force since 1932. A new Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between the U.S. and Greece was negotiated and initialed in May.

IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs

Bilateral Cooperation. DEA has a close working relationship with representatives of the Greek Coast Guard, the National Police, Customs, SDOE and Interpol. The Embassy's Economic Section maintains regular contact with SDOE and facilitated a visit by the U.S. Treasury's FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) to SDOE in October. The U.S. Information Service (USIS) regularly distributes literature on drug prevention; in 1998 USIS gave two grants to KYTHEA to pay for American training of drug rehabilitation therapists.

The Road Ahead. The USG will encourage the Greek Government to continue to participate actively in international organizations such as the Dublin Group. DEA will continue to seek funding to offer training and technical assistance to Greek officials. DEA has arranged for the Department of Defense to conduct a firearms seminar in early 1999 for police from Greece, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.