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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: DENMARK
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
Denmark is a convenient gateway for narcotics to the Nordic region.
Although traditional routes have been long-established, the development
of trafficking from the Former Soviet Union is of deep concern. Danish
authorities take a leading role in assisting the Baltic States in their
efforts to combat narcotics trafficking, which they consider a part of
"constructing an additional perimeter" in their own counter-narcotics
operations. Danish authorities believe that large amounts of narcotics
are transiting the region, but go undetected due to the open border
agreements within Europe and the gigantic volume of goods shipped
through Denmark. While hashish remains the drug of choice, the
availability of cocaine has been growing steadily. Denmark ratified the
1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances in 1991. Denmark has effective money laundering
regulations and cooperates in chemical control efforts.
II. Status of Country
Danish authorities estimate that there were 10,000 users of hard drugs
in 1995. Traffickers bring illicit drugs for local consumption and
transshipment to the other Nordic countries. Heroin from southern Asia
is transshipped to Western Europe and the United States, while South
American cocaine is transshipped to Western Europe.
The Government of Denmark (GOD) heavily regulates the country's highly
visible and active financial institutions, and has implemented
formidable money-laundering legislation. It is unlikely that Denmark
will become a major money laundering center.
Denmark, which has several large multinational chemical companies, has
monitoring procedures in place to prohibit the availability of chemical
precursors to producers of illicit narcotics.
III. Country Action Against Drugs in 1995
Policy Initiatives. Recently passed laws and increased funding to
implement the European Union's Directive on Money Laundering have
increased the effectiveness of long-established transparency procedures
in Danish financial institutions. Denmark's task force that monitors
the distribution of precursor chemicals has reported no infractions of
the requirements of the 1988 UN Convention goals for stemming the
illicit trade in precursor chemicals. Denmark provides training,
financing, and coordination assistance in interdiction to each of the
Baltic States, especially Lithuania.
Accomplishments. Danish police authorities have received funding to
increase their counter-narcotics efforts and have begun patrols through
the "free city" of Christiania, an enclave of Copenhagen where the open
sale and use of hashish have been long established.
Danish law permits the seizure of proceeds from criminal activities in
drug-related cases. Assets are turned over to the State Treasury and
are not available for use by law enforcement authorities, or to share
with other countries. Denmark has been an active participant in
international cooperation efforts on chemical precursors, out of concern
that its advanced domestic chemical industry be misused.
Law Enforcement Efforts. Danish authorities seized 1591 kilograms of
hashish during the first ten months of 1995, less than in 1994. During
the same period, authorities seized 30.6 kilograms of heroin (21.2
kilograms in transit) and 88.2 kilograms of cocaine, both significant
increases over the same time period in the previous year (18.4 and 25.1
kilograms, respectively). The amounts of hashish and cocaine seized in
transit in 1995 rose dramatically, although amounts remained modest.
Danish authorities attribute the increase in seizures of hard drugs to a
more wide-spread, highly-funded, and effective counter-narcotics effort.
Corruption. Denmark has no cases, in recent memory, of a senior
official in any branch of government service being involved in drug
production, trafficking or money laundering.
Agreements and Treaties. Denmark has not entered into any formal
agreements or treaties since the March 1995 INCSR, but has been active
in Dublin Group and EU meetings on counter-narcotics issues. According
to the UN Drug Control Program (UNDCP), Denmark pledged approximately
$2.4 million in FY95 contributions to the UNDCP.
Drug Flow/Transit. Denmark's location and extensive transportation
infrastructure make it a convenient transit point for Asian heroin and
hashish destined for other Nordic countries, Europe, and the United
States. Cocaine transits Denmark on its way to other Nordic countries
and, to a lesser extent, Europe.
Demand Reduction. The Ministry of Education administers an extensive
anti-drug education program. The school program is supplemented by
anti-drug programs in youth centers and publicity in areas where young
people congregate. Drug abuse treatment takes place in a large number
of institutions throughout Denmark. In addition to free in-patient care
at most hospitals, there are free out-patient programs in hospitals,
youth crisis centers, and special out-patient clinics.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Bilateral Cooperation. The active US Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) office in Copenhagen has excellent cooperation with the Danish law
enforcement community. United States Government (USG) agencies work
closely with the Danish Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs in
both bilateral and multilateral counter-narcotics issues.
The Road Ahead. The USG anticipates continued close cooperation with
the GOD in law enforcement. We look forward to expanding joint
operational efforts with Danish officials on individual cases of mutual
interest. The USG will continue to encourage Denmark's active
participation in the Dublin Group and will encourage Denmark to expand
its support of UNDCP programs. The USG will assist and cooperate with
Denmark in joint counter-narcotics efforts in the Baltic States.
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