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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: BULGARIA
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
Bulgaria continues to be an important conduit for smuggling narcotics
from Southwest Asia to Western Europe. While international sanctions
against Serbia forced traffickers to shift from the Turkey-BulgariaSerbia
route, Bulgaria, continued to play a key role as a transit point
between Turkey and Romania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia. Cocaine traffickers have also begun using Bulgarian airports
to circumvent improved security at West European airports. Small-scale
illicit opium poppy and cannabis cultivation and production of
amphetamines remain a problem. Domestic drug use, while relatively low,
is increasing. Bulgaria is a party to the 1988 UN Convention, but it
still lacks key counternarcotics legislation to thwart drug trafficking
operations in the country. The Government of Bulgaria (GOB) continues
to work on a national anti-drug strategy and on legislation to deter
money laundering.
II. Status of Country
Bulgaria's central location on the Balkan peninsula is attractive to
Southwest Asian heroin smugglers. The imposition of sanctions on Serbia
has prompted drug traffickers to shift their smuggling from Serbia to
Romania or to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, resulting in
the continued transit of narcotics through Bulgaria. However, trucks
carrying illicit drugs from Turkey have recently begun using ferries
from Istanbul to Romania, bypassing Bulgaria. GOB officials attribute
the drop in the number of drug seizures in 1995 in part to this
alternate route. This conflicts with reports from Romanian authorities,
however, who say that drug trafficking through Romania has declined.
Drug traffickers, particularly cocaine smugglers, increasingly used
Bulgarian airports to move their product.
The drug abuse problem in Bulgaria is growing but remains relatively
small. Bulgarian officials estimate there are 3,000-5,000 hardcore
addicts and 15,000-20,000 intermittent users in this nation of 8.5
million people. Marijuana use is a new and rapidly growing problem,
particularly among the young.
GOB authorities have detected illegal production of amphetamines,
including captagon. They also note increased smuggling through Bulgaria
to Turkey of chemicals such as acetic anhydride used in the production
of heroin.
Bulgaria is not a major financial center, but the changing character of
financial institutions and the lack of comprehensive legislation and
controls provide increased opportunities for narcotics-related money
laundering.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1995
The GOB is exerting greater efforts in developing an effective national
drug control strategy. In July, the GOB passed legislation which
codifies the counternarcotics responsibilities of the Interior
Ministry's Central Service for Combatting Organized Crime and Narcotics
Trafficking (Central Service), and permits controlled delivery of
narcotics by law enforcement authorities for drug-related
investigations.
The GOB is now drafting implementing legislation to the 1988 UN
Convention which will be presented to the Bulgarian Parliament in 1996.
The legislation includes: amendments to the National Health Law to
eliminate legal opium poppy cultivation for medicinal and research
purposes; revisions to the penal code; laws to control money laundering
and asset seizure; and revisions to the customs law.
Bulgaria's Interministerial Council for Drug Matters was reconvened in
1995 under the new Bulgarian administration and is working to develop a
counternarcotics strategy, which it hopes to present to the Council of
Ministers in early 1996.
Law Enforcement Efforts. The Central Service continues to work with the
USG on drug-related cases. In 1995, Bulgarian customs and police
officials seized over 487 kilograms of illegal drugs compared to over
920 kilograms in 1994. Bulgarian authorities attribute the drop in
seizures to a shift smuggling routes. GOB police also seized 6
kilograms of cocaine in December 1995, the largest Bulgarian cocaine
seizure to date.
Corruption. The USG has no information of senior GOB officials'
involvement in drug trafficking or other narcotics-related crimes.
Agreements and Treaties. Bulgaria is a party to the 1988 UN Convention,
the 1961 Single Convention and 1972 Protocol thereto, the 1971
Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1990 Council of Europe
Convention on Money Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of
Proceeds From Crime. A "Yugoslav" national accused of narcotics
trafficking was extradited to the United States in 1995 under the 1924
U.S.-Bulgarian extradition treaty, the second narcotics-related
extradition to the United States in two years.
Cultivation/Production. Law enforcement officials eradicated 9.7
hectares of illegal cannabis in 1995. There is legal and illegal opium
cultivation in Bulgaria. GOB authorities eradicated 0.7 hectares of
illicit opium poppy cultivation in 1995; although Bulgarian authorities
believe some illegal poppy cultivation has escaped destruction.
Demand Reduction. The Bulgarian National Center for Addictions has
developed a national strategy on drug demand reduction for 1996-1999 to
be a reviewed for approval by the Ministers of Health and Education.
The Center operates a school-based drug prevention program and opened a
methadone clinic pilot project in 1995.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
In 1995, the USG continued to urge increased attention by the GOB to the
drug issue and by West European nations most directly affected by
narcotics transiting Bulgaria. The USG agreed to provide computer and
communications equipment to Bulgarian law enforcement agencies. In
addition, the USG financed the training of Bulgarian counternarcotics
officials, including participation in a regional chemical diversion
control conference co-funded by the United States and the European
Union.
The Road Ahead. The USG will continue to encourage the GOB to bolster
its anti-drug efforts, particularly to thwart money laundering. It will
also promote cooperation by Western European nations and support from
UNDCP to assist Bulgarian law enforcement authorities with equipment and
training. The USG will work with the GOB to identify its
counternarcotics equipment and training needs, and to provide limited
assistance to meet those needs.
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