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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: BELARUS
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
The economic, political and geographic situation of Belarus make it
increasingly vulnerable to drug trafficking from Central Asia and the
Caucasus to Western Europe. Illicit cultivation of opium poppy and
cannabis contributes to growing domestic drug abuse in part because
possession of drugs for personal use is not illegal. A customs union
agreement with Russia that eliminated internal borders between the two
countries may also offer increased opportunities to drug traffickers.
Organized crime is increasingly a problem for Belarus. Without
legislation to target activities by organized crime, there is also
increased opportunity for other drug-related crimes such as money
laundering. The Government of Belarus (GOB) currently lacks both the
legislative framework and the financial resources to combat drug
trafficking. The GOB needs to make significant legislative changes to
meet the goals and objectives of the 1988 UN Convention, to which
Belarus is a party.
II. Country Status
Drug smuggling operations have adapted rapidly to exploit the increased
transit trade in Belarus to smuggle hashish and opium from South West
Asia. According to Russian authorities Afghan heroin and hashish
transiting Belarus is being seized in Western Europe, Canada, and
Russia. Most information on the extent of such trafficking is
anecdotal, however.
Local authorities are increasingly worried about the impact associated
with the reported increase in drug trafficking. For instance, drugrelated
crime has risen significantly over the past year. In addition
there are some indications that drug use is on the rise.
Currently, the biggest drug challenge for Belarus is from home grown
opium poppy which has traditionally been cultivated for cooking uses and
from illicit opium poppy straw production. This home grown poppy is
converted to an injectible poppy straw extract which health authorities
believe is used by 70 percent of the drug users in Belarus. Cultivation
of opium continues to be illegal in Belarus.
Drug-related crime is also on the rise. Small organized gangs control
most of the local drug activities in Belarus, according to police
officials. There is some speculation that Central Asian drug groups
have also become entrenched in Belarus. In 1995, approximately 1,550
drug crimes were reported; this is a 7 percent increase over 1994. In
1994, there were 1,441 such crimes, compared to 777 cases registered in
1992, a growth of 80 percent over two years.
According to data of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of
Interior, the number of officially registered drug addicts is increasing
annually. In 1994, 1,082 drug addicts were registered and in the first
months of 1995, the number increased to 1,665. Addicts are estimated to
exceed these numbers by a factor of 10. Opiates and cannabis are the
most widely used drugs, but use of synthetic drugs, heroin, cocaine,
barbiturates, is also increasing.
Belarus has a well-developed chemical industry and the resources
necessary for the production of synthetic narcotics. However, chemical
control is a low priority for the GOB and there is no effort to develop
a chemical control monitoring regime or legislation to target the
diversion of such chemicals.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1995
Policy Initiatives and Law Enforcement. The GOB has not yet formulated
any long-range antidrug plans and most efforts continue to focus on
interdiction. Responsibility is divided among the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, the Customs Committee, Border Guards and the Ministry of
Health. In June 1995, an interagency commission for combatting crimes
and drug abuse was established by presidential decree to coordinate drug
control. Tough antidrug legislation was forwarded to Parliament three
years ago and the GOB is developing legislation to criminalize
possession and personal consumption of drugs.
Authorities do not believe that money laundering is currently a problem.
Nevertheless, bank secrecy and the lack of money laundering legislation
may attract drug traffickers to launder their profits in Belarus. The
growing number of casinos may also be used for money laundering.
Belarusian law does not provide for the seizure of assets.
In the first five months of 1995 the following amounts of drugs were
seized: 50 grams of heroin, l,141 kilograms of raw opium, 7,753
kilograms of extracted opium, and 403 kilograms of poppy straw. About
25 percent of these drugs were seized from foreign drug dealers. In the
first five months of 1995, 129 persons were arrested on charges of
illegal drug trafficking; 19 of them were foreign nationals.
Demand reduction programs are limited. No national drug abuse
prevention strategy has been developed in Belarus. The emphasis is on
treatment and social rehabilitation of current drug addicts, with only
limited efforts devoted to preventative and educational programs.
Corruption. The USG is not aware of any public corruption in Belarus
related to drugs.
Agreements and Treaties. Belarus is a party to the 1988 UN Convention,
the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and the 1971 UN
Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Belarus signed an agreement in
1933 on drug control assistance with Italy, and plans to conclude
similar agreements with Austria, Bulgaria, Sweden and Germany. The GOB
has also signed bilateral treaties on assistance with Lithuania and
China, and Belarus is a party to the Commonwealth of Independent States
Convention on Legal Assistance. In 1993, Belarus became a member of
Interpol. Belarusian law has no provision for extradition.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation. In 1995, the USG
continued to urge the GOB to give increased attention to the drug issue.
Efforts have focused on identifying possible areas for assistance and
the need to implement the UN drug conventions. The USG is promoting
anti-drug cooperation by those nations primarily in Western Europe that
are most directly affected by heroin smuggling through Belarus.
UNDCP, with earmarked funds by the USG, is now providing drug control
assistance, including demand reduction programs and advice to counter
money laundering. The project is encouraging the GOB to develop a drug
control strategy.
The Road Ahead The USG will continue to encourage the GOB to expand
its drug control efforts and to improve its institutional law
enforcement capacity. At the same time, the USG will continue to urge
Western European nations most directly affected by narcotics traffic
through Belarus to provide bilateral and multilateral counternarcotics
assistance to Belarus.
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