1998 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report

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

LITHUANIA

I. Summary

During 1998, the nature of Lithuania's substance abuse problem was characterized by an increased demand for imported, instead of locally produced, narcotic substances. Although illegal narcotics trafficking continues to be the main narcotics issue for the country, there has been a significant increase in the demand for narcotics by young people in Lithuania, especially among students. Whereas young Lithuanians formerly preferred a home-grown opium-based product known as "compote," police confiscations in 1998 show a trend toward imported heroin, marijuana, hashish and cocaine. Lithuania became a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention in June 1998.

II. Status of Country

Lithuanian authorities have identified 74 organized groups involved in illegal narcotics activity, primarily the transit of opiates and cannabis products from Southwest Asia and Caucasian countries to Scandinavia and Western Europe, as well as lesser amounts of illegal drugs from South and Central America through Lithuania to Western Europe. Additionally, amphetamine factories in Poland produce products that are smuggled through Lithuania to Scandinavia. As a result, the Lithuanian Government has determined that control of the border area is critical to stopping the flow of illegal narcotics, and the majority of counternarcotics officers are currently assigned to the border regions and not to urban areas. The Lithuanian police suffer from a lack of experience and training in countering these multiple threats.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1998

Policy Initiatives. The Lithuanian Government's Action Plan for the Period 1997-2000 declared the prevention of drug abuse a priority, and the health program approved by the Lithuanian Parliament targets a reduction in drug demand by 70 percent and in drug supply by 80 percent by the year 2010. A drug prevention program, including a plan of activities for drug control and drug prevention, is under development and should be completed by December 1998. Separate laws on the prevention of money laundering and control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were passed in January 1998.

Law Enforcement Efforts. In 1998, police confiscated increased quantities of imported substances like heroin (316 grams compared with 88 grams in 1997), marijuana (three kilograms compared with 600 grams in 1997), hashish (four kilograms compared with 15 grams in 1997) and cocaine (ten kilograms compared with one kilogram in 1997) during counternarcotics operations.

Compared to 1997, narcotics-related crimes fell by less than one percent during the first ten months of 1998, but such crimes have increased by almost 25 percent since 1996. Lithuanian police authorities made an effort in 1998 to focus on longer-term operations targeting organized crime groups, perhaps thereby sacrificing short-run statistical results.

Corruption. The USG is unaware of any official narcotics-related corruption in Lithuania.

Agreements and Treaties: Lithuania became a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention in June 1998. In addition, Lithuania is a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention and its 1972 Protocol, as well as the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Lithuania and the U.S. signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which was approved by the U.S. Senate in the fall of 1998, and was recently ratified by the US. Lithuania signed an extradition treaty with the U.S. in 1924, which is still in force, but outdated. The U.S. and Lithuania anticipate beginning negotiation of a new extradition treaty in 1999.

IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs

Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation. The Lithuanian Government continues to work with a variety of European and U.S. institutions to strengthen law enforcement bodies and drug control programs in an effort to improve border security and anti-smuggling efforts. However, the implementation and ultimate impact of these programs continues to be hampered by a lack of resources. The USG has offered training to Lithuanian law enforcement agencies in illegal-narcotics-related areas, such as land and maritime border control, anti-money laundering and combating organized crime.

The Road Ahead. The USG will continue to assist Lithuania to meet the goals and objectives of the 1988 UN Drug Convention, and support Lithuania's inclusion in programs aimed at the Baltic region.